The new Iraq is beginning to look a lot like the old
Daniel Korski 9:35am
Nouri Maliki was last night appointed Iraqi prime minister after the country broke the
world record for the slowest process of government formation. Eight months passed between the election and the formation, beating even previous Belgian records of procrastination.
Hours after his appointment, however, members of al-Iraqiya, the main Sunni-backed alliance led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, walked out of the Parliament. Their concern: Maliki's failure to do as he had promised and reinstate four Sunni leaders who had been banned for alleged ties to Saddam Hussein's Baath party.
Despite the walk-out, Jalal Talabani was elected president and handed the task of forming a government to the largest coalition, the National Alliance – a merger of Mr Maliki's State of Law coalition and the Iraqi National Alliance of the radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr.
The US was quick to announce yesterday's developments as a success – but the victory is decidedly Phyrric. Al-Iraqiya had won two more seats than State of Law in March's election, and ex-Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has been seen as far better placed than Nouri Maliki to create an independent Iraq.
But Maliki, with considerable Iranian help, managed to cut a deal with President Talabani, a Kurd, and the Shia Moqtada Sadr.
This outcome does not bode well for Iraq, the US or Europe. Even Maliki's former national security advisor, Mowaffak Rubaie, has expressed concern about Iraq's future. He told the LA Times's Ned
Parker: "I personally am worried that our whole political program is going down the drain ... What did we come for? I campaigned for three things throughout my life: democracy,
federalism-community rights and human rights. The Shia are enjoying our community rights but we are persecuting the other community. We are getting closer and closer to a one-party
state."
While the US debates who "won" Iraq – George W Bush because of the surge, David Petraeus on the ground, or Barack Obama because of his withdrawal – Iraq is in fact moving
closer to an Iranian-aligned, Shia-run, one-party state.
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Yam Yam
November 12th, 2010 10:16am Report this commentAnd so the true victor in the misbegotten invasion of Iraq is... yes, the Iranians.
Meanwhile, five thousand Allied lives (included 179 British service personnel) and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives have been squandered. For nothing.
AF
November 12th, 2010 11:53am Report this commentIn the first gulf war the allies stopped short of toppling Saddam, when it became all to apparent that Iran was quickly filling the vacuum,they were happy to have a whipped dog under control,but dangerous enough to keep the local States in check,where oh where was that wise counsel when Bush and Blier were peddling their lies.
PayDirt
November 12th, 2010 1:20pm Report this commentThis piece again highlights the overarching dynamic of Islam especially in the Near and Middle East: Shia vs Sunni. They just don’t get along. With the Islamic world about 85% Sunni 15% Shia, will the Sunni eventually exterminate all the Shia? No, because Iran is 95% Shia, Iraq about 60% (and some others like Azerbaijan 75%, Yemen 50%). Other major countries reflect the global split: Turkey, Syria, Afganistan and Pakistan, roughly 20% Shia. Syria is like Iraq was, with the minority ruling the roost. It’s a powder-keg that’s always ready to explode when prodded. The invasion of Iraq gave the region a chance to settle down and sort things out…. little chance of that just yet. Better stay neutral and let them get on with it, whatever it is. Sorry if this sounds too pessimistic.
Verity
November 12th, 2010 2:40pm Report this commentDaniel Korski knows all about Iraq, as well! Indonesia! China! Iraq! What the hell! The one-man answer to global politics!
Verity
November 12th, 2010 2:42pm Report this commentAF - Leaving Blair aside, for we all know what he is, but tell me, what did President Bush have to gain by "peddling lies"?
Holly ......
November 12th, 2010 3:08pm Report this commentOnly a few fools thought the outcome would be different,happier,peaceful.
The four horsemen are at the top of the fools list.
When we remember the dead,we should also remember these four.
yank
November 12th, 2010 3:54pm Report this commentHmmmm, so coalition government is good for me...but not for thee. That it?
Andrew
November 12th, 2010 4:57pm Report this commentNo,not the old Iraq. The old Iraq was a prosperous, secular, modern state. We turned them into a dysfunctional, Islamic state, closely allied to Iran. That's the big flaw in our political system. We elect our leaders for 5 years, but are powerless to stop them doing really stupid things between elections.
AF
November 12th, 2010 7:28pm Report this commentVerity,
How about he would simply walk into Iraq and take control of the oil(never forgetting that he had his dads old sidekick Dick Cheney blowing down his ear probally telling him of unfinished business from his dads day)
Using 9/11 as a smokescreen to go into Iraq telling Americans who were still hurting from 9/11 that Saddam was involved when clearly he was not.Giving it large on WMD and later when that didn't add up regime change.
Talking it up as a crusade to gain brownie points with the evangelicals.
In his simplistic thinking what's the harm ,
Saddams a bad 'un, he'd be doing the Iraqis a favour and in no time they'd all be eating Big Mac's drinking Starbucks waving the stars n stripes and singing Dixie.
Dimoto
November 12th, 2010 8:49pm Report this comment"This outcome does not bode well for Iraq, the US or Europe".
Presumably, this should be loosely translated as: "This outcome does not bode well for the Israeli and Neo-Con plot to turn Iraq into their client state" ?
So the "project" failed ? Who knew.
Sahib AL-NASSIR - Architect
November 14th, 2010 8:54pm Report this commentWe see a coalition government all over the world, especially where Proportional representation is, Allawi won 91 seats out of 325. Almaliki won 89 seats and could form a coalition, Allawi couldn’t. Where is that so wrong?
Didn’t Allawi shot six prisoners blindfolded in a coldblooded murder in 2004 when he was a interim prim minster of Iraq as per Andrew Gillian story?
You can dislike a Muslims leaders in governments as in Turkey, but that does not mean we bend the democratic rolls, even if they are moderate Muslims leaders, Muslim fanaticism are from Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan Yemen and north Africa. Beside Almaliki is not pro Iran. and we should be glad f out .
I am not pro Islamism though
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