So, a 2/3 vote to reject Iraq's constitution in 3 of 5 Sunni provinces...

[jjmalonejr]

would derail this process?

Is that right?

There was some disagreement about this on CNN this morning. Wolf was saying it was a 2/3 majority, but he was challenged by a GOP Senator who said it was a simple majority per "the latest draft."

Anyone see this? Anyone know what the scoop is?

[Inland]

1. Here's the interim constitution

http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/iz00000_.html

See Article 61, Part C:

Article 61
(A) The National Assembly shall write the draft of the permanent constitution by no later than 15 August 2005.
(B) The draft permanent constitution shall be presented to the Iraqi people for approval in a general referendum to be held no later than 15 October 2005. In the period leading up to the referendum, the draft constitution shall be published and widely distributed to encourage a public debate about it among the people.
(C) The general referendum will be successful and the draft constitution ratified if a majority of the voters in Iraq approve and if two-thirds of the voters in three or more governorates do not reject it.
(D) If the permanent constitution is approved in the referendum, elections for a permanent government shall be held no later than 15 December 2005 and the new government shall assume office no later than 31 December 2005.
(E) If the referendum rejects the draft permanent constitution, the National Assembly shall be dissolved. Elections for a new National Assembly shall be held no later than 15 December 2005. The new National Assembly and new Iraqi Transitional Government shall then assume office no later than 31 December 2005, and shall continue to operate under this Law, except that the final deadlines for preparing a new draft may be changed to make it possible to draft a permanent constitution within a period not to exceed one year. The new National Assembly shall be entrusted with writing another draft permanent constitution.
(F) If necessary, the president of the National Assembly, with the agreement of a majority of the members' votes, may certify to the Presidency Council no later than 1 August 2005 that there is a need for additional time to complete the writing of the draft constitution. The Presidency Council shall then extend the deadline for writing the draft constitution for only six months. This deadline may not be extended again.
(G) If the National Assembly does not complete writing the draft permanent constitution by 15 August 2005 and does not request extension of the deadline in Article 61 (D) above, the provisions of Article 61 (E), above, shall be applied.

[jjmalonejr]

2. Thank you for that.

Apparently Pat Roberts was talking out of his ass.

[bemildred]

3. There is going to be a civil war UNLESS there is some compromise.

Whether or not they manage to hold an "election" in which this
"passes" is beside the point.