Iraqi politicians blame each other for lack of new government

[ECH1969]

Iraqi politicians in the last few days have begun using uncommonly bitter language to blame one another for the impasse over a new government, a development that suggests that stalemated talks are nowhere near success.

The political attacks, predictably, are along sectarian lines, with Sunnis saying Shiites are stalling the process by not nominating a new prime minister candidate, and some Shiites saying Sunni politicians want more power in the new government than they won via the ballot box.

The anger is indiscriminate. In one unscientific television poll asking viewers their opinions on the reasons for the delay, nearly half the respondents cited "lack of leadership." Non-Shiite politicians say there's no incentive for the Shiite-dominated United Iraqi Alliance to resolve the debate. The delay, they charge, doesn't hurt it.

"They are keen on serving their own interests and not those of the country," said Ali al Tamimi, a member of the Maram Gatherings, a small party that represents a range of religious and ethnic groups. "The reason for the delay is that we have people who have come to power without really being competent."

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/world/14371842.htm

[Lindacooks]

1. Wow, the Repukes have really trained them well, haven't they?

Blame everybody else - that's their mantra.

[MichiganVote]

2. Oh good..another opportunity to say, 'We told you so'

I love this line,

"The reason for the delay is that we have people who have come to power without really being competent."

A page right out of the Bush playbook.

[Igel]

3. "They are keen on serving their own interests and not those of the country

... That's really the problem, isn't it?

Everybody's tribal/religious interest trumps the country's.

They're simply not competent when partisanship, whether Sunni, Kurdish, or Shi'ite reaches a 4-month deadlock. Deadlock on an issue, move on around it. But they can't: Nobody can move forward without losing honor and perks absolutely, positively required or deserved by their little subcommunity; nobody can back down without losing honor and perks absolutely, positively required or deserved by their little subcommunity.

Bah.