IRAQ - Not Going Well

"2 Bombings in Iraq Kill, Injure Scores as Security Concerns Persist" PBS Newshour Transcript 8/17/2010

Excerpt

GWEN IFILL (Newshour): So, is there a pretty clear understanding or suspicion that there's a connection between this violence and this upcoming change in ownership of this war?

MARGARET WARNER (Newshour, on the ground in Baghdad): Yes, Gwen. And, also, people here are making the connection between the violence and the lack of a new government here. As you know, elections were held five months ago. The two top vote-getting parties and other parties have still not been able to come up with a coalition or power-sharing arrangement. And what I have heard from people, shop people, shoppers, mothers, young mothers that we have spoken to today, and in fact a couple of young army officers whom I spoke to off-camera, is that this lack of a government is also another invitation to those who would try to exploit the still considerable weakness of this Iraqi state that is trying to stand itself up.

So, I would say both the -- the political transition that has not yet been completed, as well as the military one, is -- is making people nervous here.

GWEN IFILL: So, where does the political transition stand now, Margaret? Are we still in a standoff position there?

MARGARET WARNER: Yes. And, in fact, Gwen, yesterday the standoff became more of a -- more of one. The current prime minister or acting caretaker prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, received -- his party received 89 seats. Ayad Allawi, head of another fairly secular-minded coalition, received 91 seats.

They have been trying to do a deal, but Maliki has also been trying to do a deal with a coalition of other Shiite parties. Yesterday, the two main factions basically broke off talks. Allawi took umbrage at something Maliki had said in an interview, when he dismissed Allawi's coalition as nothing but a -- quote -- "Sunni bloc."

Allawi just said: I have had it for now.

And he's walked. Now I do know that negotiations still continue fast and furious. I don't think that has stopped today. I have no indication it has. So, there's a lot going on behind the scenes. But, certainly, they are not close to a resolution, from what I understand.

Bold-blue emphasis mine

ALSO

"Iraqi Leaders Fear for Future After Their Past Missteps" by ANTHONY SHADID, New York Times 8/17/2010

Excerpt

Iraq’s political elite, empowered by the American invasion and entrusted with the country’s future, has begun to deliver a damning critique of itself, a grim harbinger for a country rife with fears of more crises, conflicts and even coups as the American military withdraws.