Posted on 03/01/2006 11:30:51 AM PST by jmc1969
Leaders of Sunni, Kurdish and a secular political party decided today to ask the Shiite alliance to withdraw its nomination of Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari for another term, political officials said.
The move is expected to draw sharp opposition from radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose support enabled al-Jaafari to win the nomination by a single vote in a February 12 caucus of Shiites who won election to the new parliament.
A political battle over al-Jaafari could further complicate efforts to form a national unity government – a key step in the US plan to begin withdrawing its troops this year. Those efforts have already been strained b last week’s wave of sectarian violence triggered by the February 22 bombing of a Shiite shrine in Samarra.
According to several senior politicians, leaders of the three parties agreed to inform Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Shiite alliance, that they lack confidence in al-Jaafari and want the Shiites to put forth another candidate.
The shi'ite hits the fan.
Looks like a last ditch effort to stop Sadr.
The move is expected to draw sharp opposition from radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr
for that reason alone, it must be the thing to do
Deomocracy in action. Sadr must be kept in check. Iranian influence must be kept in check by any means.
I hope people are going to read Mo's comments at ITM over the past two days. Clearly Talibani is super pissed off with Jafari visiting Turkey, and backed up his arguments with reference to articles 24,25 of the TAL. These guys are going head to head. Good. The Shia are not just getting away with stuff without at least a fight.
The UIA badly needs to be knocked down a peg.
Right now I can't see how a government will ever be able to form with Jaafari as PM.
ITM? TAL?
I don't think Allawi has a chance at either the PM or presidential post. However, and Talabini for one has been pushing for it, some Sunni and secular parties would like to see him elected to either the Interior or Defense Minister position. If as you most agree, he put his all into it and stayed above politics he could be a very effective minister.
I don't have confidence that a Muslim-run country can maintain democracy in the long-term by themselves.
Thx
Roger
"Looks like a last ditch effort to stop Sadr."
That's my take. Sadr has murdered enough, and now the Sunnis are (hopefully) demanding a stop to it.
A Moment of Truth for Iraq: Stable, democratic, lawful Government, with no militias, or warlord-and-militia-led Government.
I hope Sadr ends up ousted with the other extremists in the 'national unity Government'
"Mr. Alawi has the confidence of the Iraqi Army. Make him the PM and turn that new army loose."
Had that happened, I honestly believe we would be much further along in pacifying Iraq. The last thing that has kept the (dying) insurgency alive has been the sectarian nature of the leaders in Govt, like Jafaari, which has kept the sunni malcontents on the side of insurgency.
For that reason, it is also imperative to have a national unity government and not a UIA only government.
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