"[Maliki] coerced Iraqs chief justice to bar some of his rivals from participating in the elections in March 2010. After the results were announced and Maliki lost to a moderate, pro-Western coalition encompassing all of Iraqs major ethno-sectarian groups, the judge issued a ruling that awarded Maliki the first chance to form a government, ushering in more tensions and violence"
However, I can't recall hearing anything about that from the Obama administration in 2010.
Only now, 4 years later, after Al-Qaeda has seized one third of Iraq during Obama’s watch, have the MSM and the State Department decided they need a fall guy who is not named Obama.
Also, the fact that Maliki’s minority party succeeded in forming a government did not depend on going first.
Maliki would have been doing exactly the same coalition building and favor trading no matter who went first.
Finally, as far as I know, Maliki has never lost a no confidence vote, so he must be doing something right.