Originally Posted by S-2

If Ahmed Chalabi is to be trusted in his official capacity leading the Supreme National Commission for de-Baathification, his interview with Sistani in Najef left little room for the approval of the proposed legislation to re-integrate former baath members into Iraqi society. Ain't happenin'. Sistani has evidently assured Chalabi that the votes won't be there in parliament if the legislation clears the cabinet.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/worl...ld&oref=slogin

This makes our work immeasurably harder and is hardly in the spirit of reconciliation that is both necessary for Iraq to succeed as a nation and for America to continue supporting Iraq. Especially now.

I am slightly surprised by the assertiveness that we've seen lately from shia elements in Iraq. The re-emergence of Sadr and these comments attributed to Sistani, whose public utterances are minimal, seem aimed at reminding al-Maliki to whom he's beholden. If successful, we can forget any tangible progress in our last effort to secure Iraq and best tuck our tails between our legs and go home. We won't have any credibility with the sunni states facing a looming threat on the horizon from Iran.

Unless we go to the source while we can...