Hi, Allegra,
What's the thinking there about Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's latest statements?
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-08-08-iraq-violence_x.htm
Or even President Talibani (from the article): ' On Monday, President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, met with the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., to discuss security operations in Baghdad. Talabani said he told Casey "it is in no one's interest to have a confrontation" with al-Sadr's movement. '
We think he said those things because he can't be seen as alienating his fellow Shiites. It's all political. One of the Iraqis said Maliki would be slammed no matter what he said, so he's trying to play it safe.
However, the reason he is in and Jaafari is out is because Jaafari's ties to Sadr and Iran were too close. This kind of stuff could get Maliki into trouble. He's on a slippery slope with this. I don't envy him, that's for sure.
I wouldn't be surprised if he received a phone call from President Bush or Condi Rice or someone high level about these remarks.
And we'd probably never hear about it.