Iraqi Coalition Comes at a Cost

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Accord Paves Way for Iraqi Premier to be Reelected,” describes the long-sought victory Nuri al-Maliki has been seeking after cobbling together a coalition seven months after the citizens split their votes among a variety of parties.

The critical group that put Prime Minister Maliki over the top was a radical Shiite coalition led by Moktada al-Sadr who had fought American and Iraqi soldiers in the streets during the nascent civil war in the country. Mr. Sadr’s followers are supported by Iran and are virulently anti-American. Apparently, the fact that we spilled our young soldiers’ blood to topple Saddam Hussein did not enter into the equation.

The more religious (majority) Shiite coalition who had ruled immediately subsequent to our military victory was unable to deal with the political maneuvering involved, and the secular political party with the most Sunni support, led by Ayad Allawi, was bypassed as well.

Mr. Maliki’s new parliamentary majority will also include the Kurds bloc of votes, and the Kurds are expected to demand their own concessions as well.

Meanwhile, a decision will soon be required about whether to maintain the U.S. military presence in the country as the current agreement calls for the withdrawal of all foreign troops by the end of 2011. Mr. Sadr is fervently opposed to extending the deadline because he views them as a force of occupation.