“Of course they will look for other patrons and partners. Maliki and the Shias naturally will look to Iran.”
Totally agree. Maliki is quite possibly the Shia’s one and only shot at this, except for a widespread escalation of their violence, which at this time still appears very factional and uncoordinated.
I think Maliki’s next act will be to invoke Colin Powells statement that we will leave when asked.....and that....with the “friends elsewhere” threat above is I think exactly what Levin et al are shooting for, possibly set into motion by Pelosi when she visited Syria, from where Maliki has just returned, hint hint.
Connecting the dots.