Radical Cleric Helps Iraqi Prime Minister Retain Post

NY Times ^ | Febuary 12 2006 | ROBERT F. WORTH

[jmc1969]

Shiite lawmakers chose Ibrahim al-Jaafari today to continue as prime minister in Iraq's next government, after a contentious internal ballot that exposed the growing power of anti-American fundamentalists within the new Iraqi Parliament.

The selection of Jaafari, a moderate Islamist, is the first step toward the creation of a full-term, four-year government. They will now begin negotiating in earnest with the leaders of Iraq's other political groups to create a cabinet.

That task, which is expected to take months, could be complicated by the surprise selection of Mr. Jaafari, who has been widely criticized for his tenure as prime minister over the past year. Shiite leaders had expected him to cede his post to Mahdi, an economist who is more popular with Kurdish and Sunni Arab leaders.

But followers of the radical Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr, who now control the largest bloc of seats within the Shiite alliance, threw their support to Mr. Jaafari, who won 64-to-63 in a secret ballot today after efforts to reach a consensus failed. Mr. Sadr's followers decided to vote for Mr. Jaafari after he promised to implement their political program, said Bahaa al-Aaraji, a sitting member of Parliament and spokesman for the movement.

"I was surprised and rather disappointed," said Adnan Pachachi, a former foreign minister and member of the secular alliance led by the former prime minister Ayad Allawi, which has 25 seats in the Parliament. "If he follows what the Sadrists want we will not be able to have a government of national unity."

"Jaafari failed to provide security and protect Iraqis," said Mahmoud al- Mashadani, a Sunni Arab and leading member of the Iraqi Accordance Front, which has 44 seats in the new Parliament. "Their business is not our business. But I expect trouble."

[jmc1969]

What happened was that Jaafari got rid of the evidence held by the Iraqi government that Sadr killed another Shia cleric in 2003 in exchange for Sadr supporting him.

That said the situation is very much salvagable as long as the US and the rest of the coalition force the UIA to put Allawi in as Interior Minister.

[MNJohnnie]

contentious internal ballot that exposed the growing power of anti-American fundamentalists within the new Iraqi Parliament. The selection of Jaafari, a moderate Islamist

Anyone see the OBVIOUS Propaganda Insanity of the DNC Times at work here? The selection of a MODERATE prove the GROWING INFLUENCE OF THE ANTI-AMERICAN..." That is just another mind boggling example of the HATE Bush propaganda being interjected into a supposed "News Story".

Just another example of the Hysteric Left's basic contempt for Democracy. Gee these "fundamentalists" people have a say in their own Govt., how terrible! It would REALLY make sense for the US to drive them OUT of the Govt INTO the Terrorist camp! These people are such utter political bigots they do not even realize how STUPID their ideas are.

[iPod Shuffle]

What happened was that Jaafari got rid of the evidence held by the Iraqi government that Sadr killed another Shia cleric in 2003 in exchange for Sadr supporting him.

Sounds like the sort of deal Jack Bauer would approve of.

[misterrob]

huh?

[McGavin999]

That makes sense, but he's playing with fire. Sadar is a total nutcase and his people are destroying southern Iraq.

[BobS]

It will be messy and screwy for a bit until they get themselves organized. It took the US 6 years and nobody gave us advice about a damned thing. We had to do it ourselves.

[AntiGuv]

You sound unhinged. Just an FYI.