This from a predictably down-beat Robin Wright report–I’m using that word loosely of course–on the Iraqi constitution:

“Women’s rights are pointed to as a barometer of freedoms. The draft guarantees 25 percent of legislative seats will go to women, which Feldman noted is higher than in the U.S. Congress. But Francke said women failed to extend that representation throughout government.

A senior State Department official said the draft prohibits discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, origin, color, religion, sect, opinion or economic and social status. But Iraq experts say that women are vulnerable because issues — such as divorce, custody and alimony — may be decided either in civil courts or according to Islamic law. `Just imagine if a Shiite couple are seeking a divorce,” Mack said. “She can get a divorce under the civil code and with difficulty get it under Shiite law, but no alimony or child custody [for children] above a certain age. . . . This is a recipe for real problems.’”

ME: I want the Iraqi constitution to be good for women. I really, really do: it would be important and just. But these are the complaints? It guarantees 25% representation in the parliament, but not elsewhere in government? It might interfere with some alimony payments? If these are the failings, we’re in pretty good shape.