Link ~ Iraq: A Compromise PM? ...
~snip ~ "The Sadrists are opposed to Maliki as prime minister for a number of reasons. One is that they feel that they are the ones who were instrumental in giving Maliki the prime ministership in the first place. Back in 2006, their support for Maliki as a compromise candidate was key. Otherwise he would have never taken up that position. So they feel that what they give, they can take away. Another thing is that in 2008 Maliki launched the "charge of the knights" operation in Basra [key Sadrist stronghold in southern Iraq].
The Sadrists and the Jaish al-Mahdi [the so-called Mahdi Army] suffered a major setback because they came under attack by Iraqi security forces under Maliki's charge, aided by allied forces, so they really feel a sense of betrayal. It would be very difficult for the Sadrists to accept Maliki as prime minister unless that was what they themselves determined was in their best interests. So far that does not appear to be the case"...
Take note May 20th 2010 ~ Sadr reforms Mehdi Army amid Iraqi crisis ...
Monday, August 2, 2010
Iraq's PM warns his critics want a weak leader
Iraq's prime minister warned Monday that his critics want to install a weak leader that would leave the nation riven by sectarian divisions and prey to local warlords.
Shiite Premier Nouri al-Maliki's comments, airing late Monday on state run TV, came just hours after President Barack Obama promised again to remove all but 50,000 U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the month.
They also came on a day that saw the killings of a dozen Iraqis in bombings and drive-by shootings around the country - underscoring widespread fears that insurgents are taking advantage of the political impasse caused by March's inconclusive elections which failed to produce a clear winner.
Appearing at times angry and animated when lashing out at his critics, al-Maliki said he was a political target for naysayers because he refuses to sugarcoat Iraq's problems.
"I do not sweet talk," al-Maliki said in the hour-long interview taped earlier. "They say they want a weak prime minister. The country is facing a lot of problems and if the prime minister is not strong, then the country will crumble, and sectarianism and warlords will return."
"I do not understand the theory of a weak prime minister who will be a prisoner in the hands of one group or another," he said.
Al-Maliki and his Rule of Law coalition ran for re-election on a platform of stabilizing the country, but government figures show that last month was the deadliest for the nation in more than two years.
The U.S. military disputes the increase in violence, but persistent questions remain about the readiness by Iraqi security forces to take over as the American military draws down forces and looks to end its combat mission by Aug. 31.
In Atlanta, Obama said Iraq's violence is at its lowest point in years, but added: "there are still those with bombs and bullets who will try to stop Iraq's progress."
"And the hard truth is we have not seen the end of American sacrifice in Iraq," Obama said in a speech to disabled veterans. "But make no mistake: Our commitment in Iraq is changing - from a military effort led by our troops to a civilian effort led by our diplomats."
Al-Maliki has been struggling to hold on to his job since his political coalition fell short of winning the March 7 parliamentary elections that he'd hoped would grant him another term.
Attempts to ally with a conservative Shiite alliance to form a larger coalition backfired when they made their support conditional on al-Maliki not serving a second term.
Nearly five months of wrangling between the political factions has produced little to show for while violence has slowly increased in the country, especially around the capital.
In the worst incident Monday, suspected al-Qaida militants blew up the house of a policeman west of Baghdad and killed him, his wife and 4-year-old daughter.
The policeman's house in Karmah, near the western city of Fallujah, was destroyed in the pre-dawn hours while the family was sleeping, police and hospital officials said.
Seven other family members, including four of the policeman's sons, were wounded in the blast, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
Separate attacks in Baghdad, including one targeting police, killed five more and wounded 15, while attacks in the northern city of Mosul killed four.
Attacks have focused on the Iraq's security services that will soon bear the full burden of countering insurgents and stabilizing the country.
Maliki Says Impasse Over Iraqi Govt Not His Fault ...
Sadr the Kingmaker ~ Who will be Sadr's puppet?
Former Iraqi PM Allawi Testifies Before Congress (wants UN oversight)...
