Iraq Shias break ranks, turn on PM Jaafari

Reuters ^ | April 1 2006

[jmc1969]

Senior members of Iraq’s ruling Shia Alliance bloc called publicly for the first time on Saturday for Ibrahim Al Jaafari to step down as prime minister to break months of deadlock over a national unity government.

“I call on Jaafari to take a courageous step and set a fine example by stepping down,” Kasim Daoud, a senior member of the independent group within the Alliance, told Reuters.

Other senior Alliance officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed that four of seven main groups within the bloc wanted Jaafari to give up the nomination for a second term.

“There is a broad trend inside the Alliance who want Jaafari to do this (step aside) and we expect him to do so,” Daoud said.

“Daoud’s call is supported by at least 60 per cent of Alliance members of parliament,” another senior Alliance official from another group within the bloc told Reuters.

“We have stood behind him for 50 days and today we have reached the conclusion that there should be a prime minister for all Iraqis, not just one group,” he added.

[Laverne]

This sounds like good news; we shall see.

[jmc1969]

Ping

[LZ_Bayonet]

I guess he came out too strong in his support of Moqtada "Mookie" Al Sadr and his gang after the recent "mosque" incident. Now we'll see whether "supposed statesman" Mookie takes to the streets and starts shooting or goes the political route.

I regret the loss of life, but all these terrorist incidents before they settle on a government is actually having a beneficial result. They are like "qualification tests" for prospective leaders. Had the terrorists just quieted down until the new government was seated they would have been better off. Maybe Helen Thomas will ask Al Z whether he will admit to any mistakes.

[jmc1969]

Jaafari is a horrifically weak politician and a horrible man to lead Iraq. He has allowed pro-Iranian death squads to flurish that are now a bigger threat to Iraqs future then the insurgency, because he is too weak to do or say anything about it. Four years of Jaafari would send Iraq down the toilet.

[adam_az]

So farry Jafarri no goody.

[Cap Huff]

One could hope that this is the tipping point in the formation phase of the political development. We'll see. Lot's more to come . . .

[jmc1969]

Sadr has threatened to use his milita against rival factions inside the UIA, mainly against Harkim and the Badr if Jaafari is not kept on as PM.

[Cap Huff]

Yes, the lots more to come is likely to be bumpy.

[McGavin999]

It had to eventually come to this as the Shiia began to realize that Jaafrai did not have Iraq's best interests at heart, merely his own power. Now, he'll either step down or the other parties will leave the UIA and take their seats with them. Jaafrai will be left with only 30 seats from the Sadar group.

[Dog]

This is going to mean a rough patch for sure....Sadr and his master in Iran....will not be happy with this turn of events.

[McGavin999]

Sadr has threatened to use his milita against rival factions inside the UIA, mainly against Harkim and the Badr if Jaafari is not kept on as PM.

He even thinks about that and the Hawza will issue a fatwah against him and 3/4 of his followers will stand aside. There will be a small group who will stay with him, but that won't be enough to save him.

[marvlus]

This sounds like good news; we shall see.

I was thinking likewise.

[traderrob6]

This was out a week or so back, have been looking for confirmation ever since.

http://exposingtheleft.blogspot.com/2006/03/jaafari-out.html

[conservative blonde]

Iraq needs a George Washington to lead them into a new government and it won't be achieved overnight.

[Coop]

Encouraging. Thanks for the ping.

[WOSG]

"This sounds like good news;"

It IS good news, if the replacement is a good PM. The secularist and Sunnis wanted another PM, and al-Sadr was a key Jafaari backer. The alternative will likely be a more secular Shiite.

To much has gone wrong in Iraqi Govt for Jafaari to maintain confidence: The Interior Ministry and police are considered too sectarian, due to excessive shiite party influence.

This helps pave the way for a better national unity Government.

[WOSG]

"Sadr has threatened to use his milita against rival factions inside the UIA, mainly against Harkim and the Badr if Jaafari is not kept on as PM."

For some reason, the phrase "make my day" comes to mind.

We are going from 'sectarian violence' to 'shiite-on-shiite violence'?

[Marine_Uncle]

Thanks for the ping. Things are moving along. Sadr's pitch for upsetting the apple cart, or should I say pomegranate stand, may be over at this point. It sure looks more and more like Sadr is morphing into a mirage.
If the shift takes place, he will be no longer aligned with any party of importance. If I may for the general readership:
Sadr (with the understanding he is supported by perhaps 10 thousand or so followers [ Mahdi Army ] operating out of Sadr City, actually ONLY gives support to some candidates in official parties that want the coalition forces to leave Iraq, and obviously he would like to see a Shia version theocratic government take hold in Iraq.
Sadr in essence has supported since 2005 primarily, the National Independent Cadres and Elites (NICE), and to a degree based on common Shia idiologies, PM Jaafari and by default up to recently, both the Dawa and SCIRI where appropriate to his needs.
So if the current re-alignments continue, it will be default abate his quest for political power in my opinion.
If what I say can be proven true. Sadr will then become at best an anomaly in the political process taking place.
Especially if Mahdi where to be elected as PM, and he practices what he has eluded to in believing Iraq needs a secular government that adheres to the constitution.
One could then believe Sadr will be demoted to the position of sulking then, laying in wait as this goverment either fails or gains in popularity over the next four years.

[Blue State Insurgent]

My brackets have Allawi going all the way.