Still a Long Shot

24 April 2006



Iraq Gets Around to Forming a Government

Four months after the general election, the “leaders” of Iraq have finally formed a government. Although much time has been wasted by the politicians, this is the most positive news out of Iraq since the capture of Saddam Hussein. That doesn’t mean Iraq is out of the woods yet, but perhaps the terrain isn't quite as heavily forested.

Regardless of one’s view of the war, the American presence in Mesopotamia or the future of the oil market, there is something to be said for the formation of an Iraqi government elected by Iraqis under an Iraqi-approved constitution. Perhaps, it will even be a government for Iraqis. The key to having an effective and popularly supported government is to have a government at all – what logicians call a necessary condition.

For the Bush administration, the absence of an Iraqi government these many months has prevented the implementation of what it claims is its policy. “As Iraqis stand up, America will stand down,” says the president. But no Iraqi in his right mind will stand up for a government that doesn’t exist. Only now are the conditions right to begin discussing any possible success for the Busheviks.

The prospects remain bleak, however. The new PM, Jawad al-Maliki, is a close advisor to the man who failed to secure the job in the last four months, Ibrahim al-Jaafari. The new guy is a Shi’ite, who has said he’d like a secular, multi-ethnic Iraq. Inshallah. “We will work as one family to lead the political process, not based on our differences, sects or parties,” Mr. al-Maliki said at a press conference before the parliament meeting. That isn’t going to happen.

Iraq’s elections broke down along sectarian lines, and the communal violence that still threatens the nation underscores the cleavages in Iraq. The Kurds still want their own nation, the Shi’ites want to run the show, and the Sunnis still resent losing their dominant position. Overcoming the centrifugal forces will be difficult in the extreme. There is a window of opportunity that will last only a few months. Mr. al-Maliki needs to achieve a few things: 24-hour electricity for the capital, an increase in the number of security forces to combat the kidnapping industry that has sprung up, and he may have to tell off the American ambassador once or twice. One suspects that Iraqi patriots will be prepared to stand up for a government that can do that. If he fails to accomplish much by the autumn, then the power flows to the militia and religious leaders on the extremes. Iraq isn’t going to get a second chance.

© Copyright 2006 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

Home

Google
WWW Kensington Review







Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More