REVIEW & OUTLOOK
Afghanistan's Big Tent
Hammering out a constitution in a liberated land.
A pretty amazing spectacle has been taking place under a big tent in Kabul. There, 502 Afghans--men and women--representing most of the country's fractious ethnic groups have been hammering out a constitution that will pave the way in June to the country's first free elections.
The loya jirga, or grand council, opened on December 14 and was immediately overshadowed by the news of Saddam Hussein's capture. After more than two weeks of deliberation, delegates are still debating some of the more contentious issues. Democracy can be a messy business, and if there's one certainty, it's that the compromises that bring forth Afghanistan's new government will not please everybody. Nevertheless, a new constitution, conceived by Afghans for Afghans, will be an important step toward reconstruction.
Chief among the sticking points is the power of the presidency. President Hamid Karzai makes the good argument that forcing the chief executive to work with a prime minister would be a recipe for gridlock and infighting. Given that most of the country is still controlled by warlords, centralized power may prove critical in pushing forward the demobilization of militias and the appointment of civilian governors.
However, representatives of ethnic minorities, regional factions and other interest groups are wary that this power might also be abused. The challenge is to find a middle ground so that the scope of the presidency is subject to strong checks and balances while still preserving the executive's ability to act forthrightly, especially in these early years when much still needs to be done.
The role of Islamic law is another crucial issue. Some delegates want Shariah enshrined in the constitution while others would prefer the document to be entirely secular. It's encouraging that the moderate Muslim tradition that prevailed in the country before the decades of war seems to be re-emerging. The middle ground--that Afghanistan should be a Muslim republic ruled by secular laws that do not contravene Islamic principles--has broad support.
In a country with as many problems as Afghanistan, progress is bound to be slow. As recently as this past summer, the whole reconstruction effort was in danger. The international development aid was slow in arriving, which meant many Afghans saw little tangible improvement in their lives. Security had deteriorated in the east and the south in particular, as the Taliban remnants regrouped and dissatisfaction grew.
The U.S. responded by speeding up aid and going on the offensive against the militants. Over the past month, 10 rebel fighters have been killed and 100 captured, the U.S. said Tuesday.
In more good news the main road from Kabul to Kandahar was reopened last month. This is already having a major impact on people's lives. As well as bringing down costs of goods and travel, it sends a message to the less stable south and east that they haven't been sidelined. The section to Herat will follow, and many more secondary roads are also receiving attention.
The next goal is a presidential election in June. There are fears that fighting will slow down registration and force a delay. Afghanistan still needs more outside help to promote security in the provinces and build up the national army. Development aid budgets would do the most good if they could be concentrated in this difficult interregnum before the effects of free-market reforms and a sound currency kick in.
But for now it's up to the delegates at the loya jirga to make the compromises necessary so that Afghans can move another step toward stable self-rule.
