On October 22nd the New York Times reported that the administration was "drafting a timetable for the Iraqi government to address sectarian divisions and assume a larger role in securing the country".
Richard A. Boucher, the State Department spokesman, said today that the drafting of a timetable for the creation of a Palestinian state was being accompanied by actions leading to the goal of easing Mr. Arafat out.
He said an agreement on devolution would be agreed by November, with draft legislation by January – a timetable that leaves the issue unsettled until after the election.
7. (S) Asked for his advice on how best to approach the Iranians, HBJ said it is imperative that the Iranians commit to draft any deal, including a timetable.
In Baghdad the chief Iraqi negotiator, Muhammad al-Haj Hamoud, told Reuters that the draft did not give a timetable for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, and left unresolved the issue of immunity of American troops from prosecution.
The proposed draft would also invite the Iraqi Governing Council to develop a timetable for drafting a constitution and holding elections, ideally leading to the restoration of Iraqi sovereignty and the withdrawal of all American and other foreign forces.
Last week, the House of Representatives and the Senate took the first steps toward overturning the law by passing a budget blueprint along party lines that sets a timetable to draft a repeal bill.
The language also would invite the Iraqi Governing Council to develop a timetable for drafting a constitution and holding elections.
In return, the council has promised to set a timetable for drafting a constitution and holding democratic national elections (although, oddly, the question of which will come first remains up in the air).
He said the United States would introduce a resolution in the Security Council encouraging Iraq's Governing Council to submit a plan and a timetable for drafting a new constitution, and for free elections.
Under a timetable being drafted by the Pentagon's Ballistic Missile Defense Organization for the incoming administration, Mr. Bush will have to decide by March to authorize initial construction of a sophisticated new radar station at Shemya Island in Alaska if he hopes to begin work during the relatively short summer season this year.
