The current behavior of Iraq’s parliament is simply unacceptable. Over the years, the U.S. Congress has taken long and ill-timed “vacations” ahead of elections and around holidays and, on many occasions, there were strong reasons for derision from the public. But Iraq is involved in a war that could determine its very existence and its parliament has recessed until Sept. 4 because the weather is hot.

Never mind that American and other allied forces attempting to help the struggling nation make progress toward peace continue to labor in the same heat. What about their fellow citizens who are trying to get things in better order?

How can a parliament in a nation torn by war have the gall to take off the month of August? Of course, the government in the unsettled and seriously corrupt country has made little or no progress on the vital political benchmarks set by United States policy. Involved are social, economic and military issues of a serious nature such as human rights, oil revenue allocations, elections and military planning. While the Americans are working and dying, the self-serving members of parliament are taking it easy.

There is growing evidence that some Iraqi officials who should be administering and organizing are ripping off huge amounts of American money for personal gain. Then there is the growing feeling that many of the so-called Iraqi patriots are just biding their time, living off American influence and finances and waiting to join some insurgent group when they get the slightest chance to enhance their own status. They have no idea of what “democracy” is.

The United States may have mishandled some aspects of the Iraq war, but American officials and forces are hamstrung by inept, crooked and treasonous individuals in the “government.”

It might be argued that even if it had stayed in session during August, the Iraqi Parliament would have accomplished very little. However, the decision to take the month off shows a shocking disregard for the commitment and sacrifice of American soldiers who will continue to fight and die on their behalf and should raise questions about whether this government is worthy of U.S. support.