"Iraq leaders begin meetings to break political deadlock; Bombings kill at least 31 in 3 Shi’ite cities" by Rebecca Santana, Associated Press / November 9, 2010
IRBIL, Iraq — The battle is largely a contest between the Iranian-favored coalition of Shi’ite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki along with followers of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr against a Sunni-backed secular coalition led by former prime minister Ayad Allawi.
You can pretty quickly see which side the agenda-pushing media is taking.
Related: Occupation Iraq: Iran's Agent
Occupation Iraq: Iran Controls Iraq
Gee, they sure turned on him quick.
At stake is whether Iraq has a government of both the Shi’ites and the Sunnis or a Shi’ite-dominated government with the Sunnis largely in opposition, a recipe that many worry will turn the country back to the sectarian violence of a few years ago....
And "Al-CIA-Duh" will make sure of it.
Recently momentum has moved in Maliki’s direction. After gaining the support of Sadr, who used to be one of Maliki’s staunchest opponents, he also picked up the support of a smaller coalition over the weekend.
The Kurds, who rule the three northern Iraqi provinces, are thought to support Maliki’s reelection bid so long as President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, is allowed to remain in office.
Officials in Allawi’s Iraqiya coalition said yesterday that they were still demanding the prime minister’s office, but an international observer with knowledge of the talks said there is grudging acceptance within Iraqiya that Maliki will keep his position....
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So how is the U.S. trying to undercut him?
"US urges Kurds to yield to Iraqiya; Political gridlock as deadline looms" by Leila Fadel, Washington Post / November 10, 2010
BAGHDAD — The United States is increasing pressure on the Kurds to yield to Iraqiya on the presidency, worried that Iraqiya, which is headed by secular Shi’ite Ayad Allawi, will not be properly represented in the next government....
And that Maliki has spun out of control.
Related: Occupation Iraq: Kurdish Kingmakers
I thought we were supposed to respect Iraqi wishes no matter what government they came up with.
Meanwhile, the Shi’ite incumbent prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is trying to garner the backing he needs to keep his post without ceding any power.
Now he is power hungry.
Maliki emerged as the likeliest candidate for the top job in the new government when he secured the support of the Sadrists, a populist Shi’ite political movement opposed to the US presence here....
Senators John McCain, Republican of Arizona, and Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, met with Kurdish officials during a visit to Iraq this week to ask them to drop their claim to the presidency. President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden made the same request in recent phone calls, said Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish lawmaker.
Look at the BIG GUNS being DRAWN by the U.S.!
“The pressure on the Kurds is increasing,’’ Othman said. “I don’t think the blocs can reach an agreement in time.’’
The government-formation process has been slowed by allegations of electoral fraud, constitutional disagreements, and continuing violence. Last week, more than 118 people were killed in bomb attacks and a brutal takeover of a Baghdad church.
See: Occupation Iraq: Kill All the Christians!
Anger and frustration are growing daily as politicians jockey for positions in the next government....
They sound just like the AmeriKan electorate and its government.
I guess the Iraqis learned their lessons well.
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Related: Iraqi political leaders break deadlock (By Leila Fadel and Karen DeYoung, Washington Post)
I was told their was not time.
"Show of unity in Iraq lasts all of 3 hours; Sunni walkout occurs one day after agreement" by Steven Lee Myers, New York Times / November 12, 2010
BAGHDAD — Only three hours into a parliamentary session called yesterday to begin the process of approving an agreement on a new unity government, members of an alliance led by former Iraqi prime minister Ayad Allawi left in protest.
The tool of the U.S.
While the Sunni walkout did not immediately scuttle the agreement, which was reached only the night before, it was a stark illustration of the frailty of a broad coalition that was not yet 24-hours old and was a portent of the political struggles ahead.
The administration of President Obama has insisted during Iraq’s long political deadlock that a new government should mirror the will of the electorate. It got its wish: The government — if it holds together — will be fractured and unwieldy, rife with suspicion, hobbled by a shaky grasp of the rule of law, and prone to collapse, or at least chaos.
In other words, just like the AmeriKan government.
Despite reaching a tentative agreement, Iraq’s leaders continued to squabble over positions and power....
Just like U.S. politics.
Maliki, a dour, divisive Shi’ite leader, secured the official nomination for a second term as prime minister as Parliament ended its session last night.
No longer our guy!
Although many politicians spoke of national unity after the agreement was announced Wednesday night, there was little in evidence of it either in Parliament or on the streets....
Late yesterday, the new 325-member Parliament reelected Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, as president, although he failed to win the required two-thirds majority on the first vote after Allawi’s walkout. Talabani won a second vote, as allowed by law, with a simple majority of 195 votes, hardly a mandate after the behind-closed-doors agreement among major factions that broke the impasse.
Our candidates never get them (or if they do they ignore them), and the politicians meet behind closed doors all the time.
Osama al-Najafi, a Sunni from Allawi’s alliance, was earlier elected speaker of Parliament, with a Kurd and Shi’ite as his deputies. (He joined Allawi in leaving the session but returned to oversee the vote for president.)
An Osama as speaker?
Allawi’s role, if any, remained unclear, and with it the prospect of a truly unified government.
And "CIA-Duh" will do everything in its power to prevent that.
A secular Shi’ite who served as interim prime minister in 2004 and 2005, Allawi won the vast majority of Sunni votes and cast himself as a nonsectarian leader of all Iraqis.
Sunnis voted for a Shi'ite?
There is strong feeling among Sunnis that Maliki wrested victory from the rightful winner, with help from Iran and its proxies....
Un-flipping-real!
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Related: No movement in Iraq after walkout
Outline approved for power sharing
"Epic battle over, Iraq PM must form new government
BAGHDAD – Incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki cemented his grip on power Thursday, bringing an end to nearly nine months of political deadlock after he was asked to form the next government.
He now faces the daunting task of bringing together Iraq's Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish factions in a government that can overcome enduring tensions as the country struggles to develop its economy and prevent a resurgence of violence as the last American troops are due to leave by the end of next year.
The long-awaited request from President Jalal Talabani sets in motion a 30-day timeline during which al-Maliki must pick his Cabinet. Al-Maliki, a steely politician known more for his ability to alienate than unify, said he was aware of the challenges ahead....
AmeriKa has turned against him if the media is describing him in such a way. I wonder why.
Related: Occupation Iraq: Slow Torture on a Saturday
Also see: Occupation Iraq: Moving In on Maliki
I am no longer wondering.
The new government is expected to include all the major factions, including the Kurds, Shiite political parties aligned with Iran and a Sunni-backed bloc that believes it should have been the one leading the next government.
In many ways it is likely to be similar to the previous government.
So much for CHANGE, huh? You guys are mirroring the U.S. political system to a tee.
The presidency again will be held by the Kurds, the parliament speaker by the Sunnis and the prime minister's office went to the country's dominant sect, the Shiites. The breakdown is a reflection of the sectarian interests that still divide this country, seven years after the U.S.-led invasion.
Even though they never did before.
The announcement underscores what has been a stunning comeback for al-Maliki....
To the U.S. anyway.
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So why would the U.S. be upset with Maliki?
"American officials have said they will abide by the agreement, although they would consider any request by the new Iraqi government to stay longer....
Oh, he WANTS US OUT now! That's why the U.S. was backing Allawi.
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