And people think public opinion in the United States is split. Initial tallies of the constitution referendum in Iraq are now in and weekend optimism that voters would approve the document seems to be holding true. Officials in two important counties with large numbers of Sunnis -- who were widely expected to vote against the constitution -- have said that a majority of voters there have given it the go ahead. But a radical difference of opinion on the document among the electorate has been graphically uncovered. Figures from the largely Sunni city Fallujah, which has also been a center of resistance to the American led forces in Iraq, indicate a vote of 97 percent to 3 percent against the document. The overwhelmingly Shiite province of Babil just south of Baghdad, on the other hand, came up with a preliminary result of 98 percent pro-constitution and just 2 percent opposing its adoption.

Approval of the constitution would be an important step on the road to democracy and independence for the war-torn country and would clear the way for electing a permanent government in mid-December. Many, however, have warned that violence will likely continue. German papers, even as they continue to focus on coalition negotiations and political infighting in their own country, take some time on Monday to comment on Saturday's referendum in Iraq.

While US government officials are patting themselves on the back for the apparent passage of the constitution and the German government welcomes the high turnout -- some 60 percent nationwide and over 70 percent in some provinces -- the financial daily Handelsblatt argues that it all depends on one's point of view. "Those who argue the constitution has now split Iraq" -- in view of the weakened Sunni position now written into law -- "have good arguments." Optimists, on the other hand, can point to an astounding move toward democracy in view of the ongoing violence of the insurgency. In truth, though, the paper argues, this is not a turning point. "The creation of the new state and the pacifying of the people is a process that will take a long time."

The center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung prefers to open editorial fire on US President George W. Bush, calling his comments on the constitution's apparent passage a ("milestone on the road to democracy") akin to Mission Accomplished, Part II. "His comments are within the framework of his standard Iraq analysis: Against all logic, the president always speaks as though the situation in Iraq were a healthy one." In reality, the commentator says, the US plan for Iraq is a virtual one that sees itself as victorious once the steps to democracy are completed with the December election of the permanent government. But, "with or without the constitution, the country stands on the brink of a civil war." In other words, no matter what Bush says, American troops are going to have to stay in Iraq for awhile.

The conservative daily Die Welt runs an editorial on Monday that looks as though it could have been written by George W. himself. While correctly praising the electorate for its courage in going to the polls in the face of threats of violence, the paper then goes on to enumerate all the benefits a constitution would supposedly bestow on the country. The country would be "a step further." The threat of a civil war would be "averted for now and the risk of splitting the country into Kurdish, Sunni and Shiite regions is lessened." It would also limit the influence of Iran and would avoid the conflict within the country as to who gets how much oil money. Everybody, in other words, would be happy. 

The left-leaning Die Tageszeitung concentrates on the intentions of the Sunnis in its commentary and begins with the good news: There were few attacks on referendum day -- in contrast to the parliamentary elections in January -- and this time around the Sunnis deigned to go to the polls. But why? "Clearly, the reserve shown by the Sunni guerrillas was a tactical decision." The insurgents felt they had an opportunity to rid themselves of a constitution they don't want using political means instead of violence. "But if the Sunni calculation fails to derail the constitution by political means, then the current decision to choose a political path could quickly revert to military activity."