Replies

For those like myself that tend to forget things, in this case due to my sloppy studies of the Iraqi constitution, one can find exactly what the Prime Minister/President duties are in Section three of their constitution. Articles 37 through 45. In principle it appears the President does have control over the PM and his cabinet. At least to some degree. So regardless of whom where to become PM, DM, IM, perhaps if Talabani stays in office as the president, things would not get totally out of hand. I am refering to a radical shia dominated parliment lead by a guy like Hakim or Mahdi.
Then again. I may be totally off based, which I sense may be the case. Talabini has shown he attempts to be fair. Of course being a Kurd he can continue to offer methods to thwart any power plays by radicial arab shia, hopefully. If things come to push and shove, the president is ultimately in charge of the Iraqi military. And the military by most indications appear to have welcomed the US into their bossom. And if this is true, guys like Sadr regardless of their current influence may in the long run, just fade away if they are not willing to loosen up.

There are so many different parties within the UIA and outside it that it will be really hard for any one or two parties in the UIA to have a massive say if the UIA continues to fracture and that is exactly what I hope will happen.

Talabani is currently unhappy because the presidents powers are sharply limited by the Constitution and he and the Kurds are demanding that be changed.