Friday, January 05, 2007
U.S. seeking to get rid of al-Maliki
Politics
The U.S. is frustrated with the government of Nouri al-Maliki and is seeking ways to dump him, well-placed sources say. The prime minister has failed drastically in efforts to reconcile the country’s warring factions and is even thought to be unable to solve difference among his own ruling Shiite-dominated coalition. Maliki, the sources say, has caused the U.S. deep embarrassment through his government’s inefficiency in running the country and the way former leader Saddam Hussein was put to death.
Maliki himself does not seem to be interested to continue and is reported to have openly expressed a willingness to his advisers to step aside even before the end of his term. The U.S. publicly backs Maliki but covertly it is hugely disappointed by the performance of his government, the sources say. Maliki has his own grievances. The sources say he blames his failures squarely on the U.S. which is still the real decision maker in the country.
Maliki and his government complain they lack the authority to redeploy an army battalion or send Iraqi troops into battle as decisions like these are still in U.S. commanders’ hands. The Iraqi government seems sovereign on the surface while the real reins of power rest with the U.S. But the U.S., though unhappy with Maliki, lacks a clear picture of what to do next and the sources said even U.S. President George Bush is in a dilemma over what strategy to adopt.
Maliki himself does not seem to be interested to continue and is reported to have openly expressed a willingness to his advisers to step aside even before the end of his term. The U.S. publicly backs Maliki but covertly it is hugely disappointed by the performance of his government, the sources say. Maliki has his own grievances. The sources say he blames his failures squarely on the U.S. which is still the real decision maker in the country.
Maliki and his government complain they lack the authority to redeploy an army battalion or send Iraqi troops into battle as decisions like these are still in U.S. commanders’ hands. The Iraqi government seems sovereign on the surface while the real reins of power rest with the U.S. But the U.S., though unhappy with Maliki, lacks a clear picture of what to do next and the sources said even U.S. President George Bush is in a dilemma over what strategy to adopt.
There is no guarantee that dumping the prime minister or reshuffling the government will improve the security situation. Saddam Hussein’s execution is said to have dashed any hopes for reconciliation as the country’s minority Sunnis now feel more estranged than ever. Millions of Iraqis who oppose the U.S. and Maliki government see the execution as an act of revenge rather than justice. The U.S. quagmire is evident in the lack of a clear strategy. Washington is not at all happy with the Shiite-dominated coalition running the country but at the same time it cannot come to terms with its nemeses, the Sunnis, who are determined to force it to cut and run.
