Nouri Maliki reappointed as Iraqi prime minister

[tantalus]

Originally posted by RoccoR
More and more, people are beginning to be concerned about the very open influence both Moqtadar al-Sadr and the Iranians have and projected to get.

and he returns

The anti-US Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr is back in Iraq after years of self-imposed exile, officials have said.

After spending more than three years in Iran, the radical cleric returned to Najaf, his stronghold south of Baghdad.

The militia he founded, the Mehdi Army, clashed several times with US and Iraqi forces after the 2003 US-led invasion.

Last month, his political movement secured a deal to be part of the new government, with 39 parliamentary seats and seven ministries.

BBC News - Moqtada Sadr, anti-US cleric, returns to Iraq from Iran

[RoccoR]

tantalus, et al,

This is a type of test.

and he returns

BBC News - Moqtada Sadr, anti-US cleric, returns to Iraq from Iran

(COMMENT)

I think, somewhere in the Iraqi system, there is still an active warrant for his arrest in connection with the murder of Abdul-Majid Khoei.

It will be very interesting to see how this plays-out, as I know someone is going to raise the issue; sooner or later.

If --- al-Sadr gets a "pardon" or if Iraq fails to act --- sweeping it under the rub and destroying the records and evidence, then that will even be more telling. The Iraqi Government will claim "insufficient evidence" and decline to take action under the "Rule of Law."

It will be interesting to see what happens.

Most Respectfully,
R

[cape_royds]

Maliki did well.

He got Moqtada to back his government, without having to cede to them any major cabinet posts.

Maliki himself made a nice power-grab, "temporarily" holding onto the ministries of Defense and Interior, i.e. Maliki is not only Prime Minister, but he retains direct personal control over both the army and the police.

I'm not as discouraged as some of the others on this thread. From my standpoint, nothing took place that isn't the usual sort of parliamentary horse-trading. I find it rather promising that Maliki and Sadr could be openly fighting in '08 and become basically colleagues in '11. Maliki got the better of Sadr in '08, and perhaps he got the better of him once again. On the other hand, Sadr's back-down in '08 looks smart today--bend, don't break.

Sadr's still got fiery rhetoric and attracts big crowds:

We are still resisters, and we are still resisting the occupier militarily and culturally and by all the means of resistance. Repeat after me: No, no for the occupier. Let's have all the world hear that Iraqi people reject the occupier.

Al-Sadr hammers anti-US message in 1st Iraq speech

But of course any politician in Iraq that wants to succeed is going to have spit some fire at foreigners. There would be something terribly wrong with any people, who after a foreign occupation, didn't want to at least rhetorically shake the dust off.

[RoccoR]

cape_royds, et al,

I apologize for getting back to this so late. I've been on the road and the Internet in my hotel in Sanaa is not functioning.

Maliki did well.

He got Moqtada to back his government, without having to cede to them any major cabinet posts.

(COMMENT)

I think this is a fair, but an optomistic assessment. Although I am not sure that enlisting al-Sadr into the government process was a concern; but, more politically advantageous (even an act of desparation) for al-Maliki.

Maliki himself made a nice power-grab, "temporarily" holding onto the ministries of Defense and Interior, i.e. Maliki is not only Prime Minister, but he retains direct personal control over both the army and the police.

(COMMENT)

I'm not exactly sure that this should have been the outcome of the election.

As far as retaining control over ISF resources, that is a necessity of every dictator. That is how they remain in power. While it can be said that al-Sadr doesn't have this ISF control, it remains to be seen if he has the influence.

I'm not as discouraged as some of the others on this thread. From my standpoint, nothing took place that isn't the usual sort of parliamentary horse-trading. I find it rather promising that Maliki and Sadr could be openly fighting in '08 and become basically colleagues in '11. Maliki got the better of Sadr in '08, and perhaps he got the better of him once again. On the other hand, Sadr's back-down in '08 looks smart today--bend, don't break.

Sadr's still got fiery rhetoric and attracts big crowds. ...

(COMMENT)

I have to say, this is very optomistic; but, becoming "colleagues" is NOT what I would considered an outcome without "some risk;" either in terms of the Iraqi people and their expectations, internal stability (long term), or an outcome pleasant for America - given the investment. Once US influence is significantly reduced, what will al-Sadr set his sghts on next?

But of course any politician in Iraq that wants to succeed is going to have spit some fire at foreigners. There would be something terribly wrong with any people, who after a foreign occupation, didn't want to at least rhetorically shake the dust off.

(COMMENT)

And Americans are such an easy target in this regard.

Most Respectfully,
R