The New York Times reports the Iraqi Parliament has passed a law making way for provincial elections to be held by the end of January. Pretty much the definition of political progress. But of course, by virtue of logic only understood by the New York Times, this is far from a good thing:

But in passing the bill, the lawmakers simply delayed dealing with the two most divisive issues they faced: how to resolve a quarrel among ethnic groups over the control of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk in the north and how best to achieve political representation for Iraq’s Christians and other minorities.

So: if they didn’t pass the law, that would have constituted some kind of head-on approach to the Kirkuk and minority issues. Got it. Never mind that the law passed “provides for a committee made up of representatives of the major groups who have made claims [in Kirkuk] – Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen and Christians – to present recommendations for resolving the dispute to Parliament by March 31,” and another committee to work with the UN on minority issues.

Nor does the Times mention that this law will allow for elections in 14 of Iraq’s 18 provinces, the better to create the impression of widespread political dissolution. In fact, the Times casts the elections in such depressing terms the editorial staff is undoubtedly now looking for a way to link the disaster to John McCain.