Constitutional Infirmities

Jacob Sullum | September 8, 2005

In yesterday's Washington Times, Bruce Fein shreds the proposed Iraqi constitution, calling it "a joke" that "betrays a political amateurism and immaturity destined to shipwreck unity and democracy in Iraq." In addition to familiar complaints about the risk of national fragmentation and the conflict between the constitution's Islamic law provisions and its guarantees of individual rights, he notes that the document includes "social welfare rights more akin to a child's Christmas list than enforceable law."

Addendum: An English translation of the draft constitution is available here.