Iraqi Cabinet Complete

Bloomberg.com:

Saadun al-Dulaimi was yesterday appointed Iraqi defense minister and Bahr al-Ulum oil minister as Iraq's National Assembly approved the final six members of a national unity government. Abid Mutlak al-Jubouri, a Sunni Muslim, was named one of three deputy prime ministers and Usama al-Najafi, also a Sunni, was appointed minister of industry, according to the Web site of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Moshen Shlash, a Shiite Muslim, took the electricity portfolio, the Kurdish political party said. Hashim as-Shible, a Sunni who served as Justice Minister in 2003, was named human rights minister, the PUK said. As-Shible turned down the post soon after the announcement was made saying that he objected to ``a cabinet chosen on sectarian and ethnic lines,'' Agence France-Presse reported. It isn't known who will replace him. The appointments complete a 36-seat strong cabinet and end months of political deal-making that followed Iraq's Jan. 30 balloting for Assembly members. The transitional government of Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari must now draft the country's constitution and prepare for general elections by year's end.

Lots remains to be done of course. Drafting a constitution isn't easy and is sure to raise emotions during the process. America's first 'constitution' the Articles of Confederation was pretty much a complete failure and the Constitution we finally settled on almost didn't exist due to some pretty extreme differences of opinions and compromises that needed to be made. Iraq's constitution will have it's challenges as well. I am heartened though by the progress being made there, more than anything I think in the percetion of Iraqis and the Iraqi politicians. Coming up with a cabinet that would satisfy the majority was hard work. They did it, and they did it while bringing in the Sunni's and engaging them in the process.