KELVIN SMITH LIBRARY

Sunni leaders continue to baffle

If anybody can possibly explain this to me in a rational way I would be most grateful. Sunni leaders in Iraq are, and have been strongly opposed to the presence of foreign troops on Iraq soil. They also encouraged the wholesale boycott of the recent election process in Iraq. Now, (BBC News story) they protest that the election results are illegitimate because so few Sunni participated, despite opposing proclamations by non-U.S. representatives from the United Nations and other international bodies.

Did they completely miss the point of these elections?

Did they completely miss the idea that this was their chance to have their people represented in an Iraqui government elected by Iraquis, and that this government would be writing the new Iraqui constitution?

Do they completely miss the notion that when there is a stable Iraqui government in place, and a stable, viable Iraqui security force that the foreign troops will leave?

Even with as much as I dislike the policies, practices, and positions of the George W. Bush administration, even I can see that they are doing most of what they can to stay out of Iraqui domestic decisions and provide support for a not yet completely formed Iraqui political machine.