Amid all the pessimism over the Iraqi Constitution, it looks like one of the largest Sunni parties may support it in the end. Let's hope they do.

I have been arguing to my students lately that the forces lined up for and against the Iraqi Constitution are engaged in a struggle over symbolic politics. Sunnis object to the Constitution not on its merits, but because it symbolizes Iraq's defeat. The Constitution legitmizes the U.S. occupation and thus must be opposed, in their eyes. The details of federalism really don't matter.

Thankfully, symbolic politics only have subjective meanings. The same Sunnis who choose today to see the Constitution as a symbol of defeat and Arab subjegation to some Neocon-Zionst plot, may be able to view that same document in the future as a triumph of democracy over the Arab socialist fascism of the Saddam Hussein regime.

Al Jazeera:

One of Iraq's biggest Sunni parties has said it might back the country's constitution, despite calling for changes to a text agreed by the Shia-dominated parliament.

The Iraqi Islamic Party, a multi-ethnic group seen as moderate Islamist and opposed to violence, said on Monday that there was still room for negotiation on the constitution.

"We have not signed the constitution and we still have the time starting from now until the referendum comes.

"[But]we might say yes to the constitution if the disputed points are resolved," party general-secretary Tariq al-Hashmi told a news conference....

Earlier, hundreds of people marched in the city of Tikrit to protest against the constitution, witnesses said.

They carried photographs of the former president Hussein and held up banners saying "No to the Zionist-American-Iranian constitution". Some Iraqis say the Shia-led government is too close to Iran.

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