The people of Iraq, striving to reclaim their freedom, which was usurped by the previous tyrannical regime, rejecting violence and coercion in all their forms, and particularly when used as instruments of governance, have determined that they shall hereafter remain a free people governed under the rule of law.

These people, affirming today their respect for international law, especially having been amongst the founders of the United Nations, working to reclaim their legitimate place among nations, have endeavored at the same time to preserve the unity of their homeland in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity in order to draw the features of the future new Iraq, and to establish the mechanisms aiming, amongst other aims, to erase the effects of racist and sectarian policies and practices.

- opening of provisional Iraqi Constitution; does the U.S. also respect "international law?" Did it when it repeated aided the "previous tyrannical regime?" Does it "reject[] violence and coercion?" Is its constitutional vision one that is closely intertwined with the UN or world community, the latter of which is something its Declaration of Independence did appeal to?

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Book Review: I have recently read a compilation of Constitutional Law Stories edited by Michael C. Dorf. The word "stories" is apt -- though the Supreme Court take cases these days mainly for their broader implications [which has troubling implication itself; see, e.g., here], individual cases have their own "stories" that are of interest and help in miniature to examine the broader issues. So is the case here; though some of the chapters are better than others, on the whole, the book provides an interesting and thought provoking analysis of some of the top rulings in constitutional history. The lay reader and those who have examined many of these opinions/issues in detail both will benefit from this volume. Each chapter is an independent discussion, so one can pick and choose among those that are of particular interest. Overall, a good addition to one's library or reading list.

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News: I discuss various issues involved in the Martha Stewart verdict, including comparisons to her acts and those of President Bush, here. Two Supreme Court rulings handed down today are dealt with here. Sadly, the long expected death (suicide) of monologuist Spalding Gray was confirmed when his body was found. The newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is discussed here.