A sorry milestone.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Despite President Bush's effusive praise, it's hard to get misty-eyed about an Iraqi draft constitution that divides Iraq into semi-autonomous states, enshrines Islam as the primary source of law and fails to protect the rights of women and Iraq's Sunni minority.

Any hopes White House officials might have had for another purple-finger moment vanished as all 15 Sunni delegates refused to sign the draft, setting the stage for a divisive battle when the charter goes before voters in October.

Of course, that didn't keep Bush from hailing the constitution as a milestone in Iraq's transition to democracy and calling its drafters an "inspiration to all who share the universal values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law."

With polls showing Americans' disapproval of the Iraq war at an all-time high, the president could hardly be expected to characterize the constitutional process as the major setback - and indictment of his administration's policies - that it is. But it would be heartening if the president at least acknowledged the gravity of the situation in Iraq.

Now, Americans find themselves in the unhappy situation of hoping Iraqi voters approve this flawed constitution - Shariah law and all - so U.S. troops can start to withdraw.

That approval, however, is far from a foregone conclusion. If two-thirds of voters in three of the country's provinces reject the draft, then the transitional National Assembly must be disbanded, new elections held and a new constitution drafted. Given that four of Iraq's provinces have Sunni majorities, rejection looms as a distinct possibility.

The administration must rouse itself from its slumber of denial and commit to an exit strategy. While Bush argues that would encourage insurgents, it would also serve notice to Iraqis that they must compromise and work together to forge a peaceful, stable Iraq.

Bush should commit to withdrawal even if Iraqis reject the draft. If a stable government isn't in place by the end of next year, it's hard to imagine the presence of American troops can establish one even by the end of the next decade. Indeed, Iraqis are more likely to grapple their way to viable nationhood if the U.S. military is no longer in their midst to serve as a target and recruiting tool for insurgents.

If Bush refuses to commit to withdrawal, Congress should demand that the administration produce a plan for removing troops by the end of next year. If the president refuses, lawmakers should use their constitutional authority to stop funding this disastrous war and to start bringing U.S. soldiers home from the killing ground that is Iraq.