The New York Times | Editorial

The Iraqi Parliament has finally done something that the Bush administration, and many others, considered essential to political progress in Iraq: it passed a law intended to open government jobs to former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party. What should have been heralded as an accomplishment, however, may only serve to further reinforce the bumbling nature of President Bush's ill-conceived adventure in Iraq.

    No one, it seems, has a clear sense of what the law will do. Some suggest it could actually exclude more former Baathists than it lets in - a sure-fire way to fuel political tensions rather than calm them.

    That's not what was supposed to happen. One year ago, Mr. Bush authorized a major buildup of troops as a way to create the space for Iraqis to bridge sectarian divisions and achieve benchmarks for political progress that were set in 2006. While American forces have reduced violence, Iraqis squandered the opportunity, failing to adopt a law that would guarantee equitable division of oil revenues among various groups.

    So on Saturday when Parliament passed the long-awaited Justice and Accountability Law, we were inclined to agree with Mr. Bush that it was "an important step toward reconciliation." In a decision since regretted, American authorities dissolved the Baathist Party after the 2003 Iraq invasion and excluded most of its members from government jobs. That shredded the country's bureaucracy and senior military corps and embittered Sunnis, many of whom joined the insurgency. Shiites who suffered under Saddam but now dominate the government have resisted allowing their enemies to return to positions of authority. But many Baathists only joined the party out of self-preservation - the only way they could obtain work in their chosen professions - and integrating them into the work force is crucial.

    But the new law is so riddled with caveats and loopholes that some Sunni and Shiite officials say it could actually exclude more former Baathists than it lets back into government. That includes keeping them out of militias that have assisted the Americans in combating Al Qaeda and which the Americans hoped to integrate into Iraq's police and military forces. As Mr. Bush praised the new law, spokesmen for the American Embassy and for the American commander were unfamiliar with it.

    The new law appears to create the possibility of pensions for former Baathists who held top national and regional-level jobs, even if they are still excluded from employment. That's a plus. But that so important a law remains shrouded in mystery and confusion is inexcusable. And the fact that just more than half of the 275-member Parliament was present to vote on the measure does not inspire confidence that Shiites and Kurds really want to reach out to Sunnis.

    Administration officials continually lower the bar for Iraq. Now they admit that the law is not perfect but say it begins to set fairer standards. Iraq's presidency council still must approve the law and could yet make improvements. Iraqis are going to have to do a lot better to make their country work. Withdrawing American troops may finally persuade them to do that.

Tuesday 15 January 2008