If Maliki truly opposes ISIS, I have no problem with being a dictator if that’s what it takes. Now is not the time for factional fighting when the country is falling apart.
Maliki is probably one of the reasons why ISIS is doing so well. He stacked the Iraqi army with his political cronies after the US pulled its troops out. Competent, American trained officers were replaced with men who’s only interest was stealing everything that wasn’t nailed down. He alienated the Kurds and Sunni groups that had allied with the central government. Even as ISIS was starting to surround Baghdad, he kept ordering the remnants of the Iraqi Army into assault after futile assault against Tikrit. At the same time, he was completely paranoid about the Kurds, blaming them for this disaster and refusing to give them supplies, their share of oil money, or military co-operation.
It doesn’t matter if Maliki tryly opposes ISIS, his heavy handed, even brutal treatment of Sunnis has made him the wrong person to cure factional fighting.