This is a good article/analysis. Best wishes for Iraqis, they deserve democracy and stability. The best thing to happen would be a gradual & ongoing move toward nationalism and secularism by the average Iraqi (Arab or Kurd). Hopefully this will be reflected in their choice of gov’t.
My main concerns at present are:
1. Outcome of the election. Realistically, neither the Iranian gov’t, which backs the majority Shia elements, nor those foreign organizations/gov’ts who back the Sunnis, in the medium or longer term, will discontinue their attempts at hellraising & manipulation in their own favor.
2. A bigger test will be when the American troops pull out or reduce their presence in Iraq. My guess is that, at least, the Iranian gov’t is waiting for this to happen, before intensifying their overt and covert meddling.
3. Corruption.
Anyway, democracy doesn’t happen in a few yrs or simply w/elections. But, once people have a taste of it and it is embedded in the way people do things, then it’s much harder to uproot.