After weeks of late-night negotiations and under intense U.S. pressure, Iraqi lawmakers failed to pass a much-debated provincial elections law Wednesday before adjourning for the month.
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The latest move by parliament underscores the great divide between security and political progress in Iraq. While violence is at a record low, progress on the political front is lagging as sectarian blocs wrangle over each divisive issue to come before the parliament.
Parliament also has yet to pass a law to share oil revenue or to amend the constitution on such issues as the role of Islam and the nature of federalism in the government. With deep religious and ethnic divisions, members have opted to deal with such issues by putting them off.
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Then the United States and United Nations got involved, scurrying for a solution so that the elections could proceed.
Scurrying for the quick fix isn’t going to work. Unless the entrenched political and religious divisions can be resolved, the military and security improvements can’t be considered locked in place.
