With Iraq back on the front burner, the media is back with all sorts of stories about how prime minister Maliki is "divisive" and has to go. In the last day, I read at least three columns discussing ways in which the USA could force Maliki out of office. This is not just nuts, it is ignorant as well.
Iraq recently held elections. No new government has yet been formed. Maliki's party won about 30% of the seats in the parliament. That means that unless Maliki can form a coalition with other large parties, he is going to be out of office in the very near future no matter what. The largest Sunni party along with the main Kurdish Party and even some of the other Shiite parties have already said that they will not align themselves with a government led by Maliki. Barring a major change of heart, Maliki is on his way out.
Clearly, it is a good thing that the Iraqi democracy itself will be the source of Maliki's leaving office. The USA should support that change and, if possible, we should work behind the scenes to help arrange a government that will include not just Shiites but also Sunnis and Kurds. The key words here, however, are "BEHIND THE SCENES". This is the Iraqi government, not the American one.
And a final note to all those purported pundits who call for America to get rid of Maliki: it has already happened. He is going.
Iraq recently held elections. No new government has yet been formed. Maliki's party won about 30% of the seats in the parliament. That means that unless Maliki can form a coalition with other large parties, he is going to be out of office in the very near future no matter what. The largest Sunni party along with the main Kurdish Party and even some of the other Shiite parties have already said that they will not align themselves with a government led by Maliki. Barring a major change of heart, Maliki is on his way out.
Clearly, it is a good thing that the Iraqi democracy itself will be the source of Maliki's leaving office. The USA should support that change and, if possible, we should work behind the scenes to help arrange a government that will include not just Shiites but also Sunnis and Kurds. The key words here, however, are "BEHIND THE SCENES". This is the Iraqi government, not the American one.
And a final note to all those purported pundits who call for America to get rid of Maliki: it has already happened. He is going.
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