Iraq elections

Ethnic divisions threaten to delay Iraqi parliamentary elections that are key to the anticipated withdrawal of U.S. troops later this year.

Sunni Arabs blocked a previous law that would have allowed elections to go forward in January as required by the country's constitution.

Sunnis boycotted the 2005 election, which cost them seats in Parliament. However, they now want to triple from 5 percent to 15 percent the number of seats allocated to Iraqis living abroad. Most of them are members of the Sunni minority, who had enjoyed power under Saddam Hussein but are now a minority in a government dominated by Shiites.

Instead of heeding the demand, Iraq's Parliament responded with an amended law reducing Sunni representation. The action invited another Sunni veto.

The revised law would also benefit Kurds, who want their representation in the three semiautonomous northern provinces increased at the expense of Sunnis.

The dispute rekindles the ethnic divisions that have dominated Iraq and have plunged it into civil war. Observers say that is not likely to recur, but the quarrel highlights the lingering mistrust among the groups.

Given the calendar and constitutional requirements, officials say the stalemate makes it doubtful elections can be held in January. The date, though, can be problematic for America's troop withdrawal.

President Obama plans to reduce America's military presence from 115,000 to 50,000 by the end of August. All American forces must be out of Iraq by the end of 2011.

The planned timeline depends on successful elections that are supposed to take place in January. For now, the administration remains confident that elections will be held. As the United States looks to a build up of troops in Afghanistan, it is important to adhere to the troop withdrawal plan and to wind down our presence in Iraq.