Ping
Looks like it is going to be touch and go, but I think the Iraqis are going to pull this one off. Of course, that just would get them to the starting gate, but there is reason for some optimism here.
Never a duel moment in Iraqi politics. At least Sadr is being shown to have less influence then some of the articles portrait. One can only wonder how much less evil say Hakim would be then Mahdi, concerning making an attempt at being fair to Iraqis that are not Shia, and particularly not pro Iranian. It always goes back to someone like Allawi being the best choice. Certainly this time around he would try his best to solidify the country under one flag and govern in a secular form. Seperate the dominant Shia supreme religious council for instance from gaining to much cloat as the constitutional changes that must be made come into play and how their new body of laws shall be interpreted and carried out. So much rides on this first government. It will set the stage for success or failure. But I realize Allawi is not going to be able to make a play for the top job, let alone a key PM position. And he may just decide to call it quits and move back to London.