It doesn't take a political scientist ...

More trouble in Iraq: the Bremer team is having difficulty getting one of the country's most powerful religious leaders to go along with its plan to create Iraq in America's image by setting up a needlessly complex electoral system.

The Washington Post reports, "After weeks of quiet overtures and secret letters to Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, administration officials say they are baffled over exactly what he wants -- and even more confused about what it will take to get him to back off his demand for direct elections.

On substance, the United States is not even sure how well Sistani understands the complicated U.S. plan to hold 18 regional caucuses to select a national assembly, which would pick a government to assume power when the occupation ends. Complicating the problem is the fact that there is no precise equivalent in Arabic for 'caucus' nor any history of caucuses in the Arab world, U.S. officials say."

Overall, I'm just amused that the Americans seem so perplexed by Sistani's demand for direct elections. "Ohhhh. . . so you're saying that EACH PERSON should have ONE VOTE. Huh. Interesting."

Enter Sandman

It is a self-inflicted no-TV night at the house where I am staying. (There was a fire in my house a couple of weeks ago, and I’m moving into a new house later this week.)

Nic and Andy are playing guitar.

Nic: Hey, that’s Candlebox!

Andy: Yeah. Heh heh, we’re both 27.

Nic: Do you know any Pearl Jam?

Andy: Dude, I used to know so much Pearl Jam.

***guitar playing***

Andy: Man, if we’d lived next door to each other in 8th grade, we’d be rock stars by now.

Meghan: OK, now what?

Instrumental Break

April-December 2003