Iraqis Vote On Constitution
October 14, 2005

In Canada I participated in the vote for a Constitutional election in 1992. Unfortunately I could not vote in favor of it. They had packed too much into it. I think there were very few people who could accept everything in the proposed Canadian Constitution of 1992 and it went down to a resounding defeat. So Canada still has no real constitution.
                I think it is important to establish a constitution and I think it should start out very simply, with something a majority of people can agree with. Then it can be accepted and can gradually be built upon.
                The case with Iraq is different from Canada. Democratic nations all hope that the current constitution will pass - accepted by most Iraqis and many of the Sunnis. Then there is great hope that terrorism will be diverted into the political process, with a parliamentary election to be held in December.
                The US has a history of helping democracies to get started. The Marshal plan after WW II helped Europe to recover and led eventually to the European Union. As more democracies get established we can make it harder for dictators to get a foothold, bringing greater freedom to the earth.
                Tomorrow we will find out if Iraqis have accepted their new constitution.