Push for new government in Iraq begins (Maliki out - Allawi in?)

[sabra]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-070308regime,1,626750.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Push for new government in Iraq begins

BAGHDAD -- The secular former prime minister and U.S. favorite Ayad Allawi is leading a new push to replace the Shiite-led administration of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki with a broad-based government that would focus on restoring order.

Amid deepening concerns among Sunnis and secularists about al-Maliki's performance, Allawi has emerged at the center of an initiative to create a "national salvation front," which his supporters say would be able to secure the backing of Iraqi insurgents, reunite the country and end the sectarian conflict that has prevailed for more than a year.

Though Allawi's aides deny that he wants to replace al-Maliki as prime minister, Allawi is preparing to embark on a tour of the region to win the support of Arab governments for his proposals, just as representatives of Iraq's neighbors are gathering with the U.S. in Baghdad for a regional conference intended to shore up support for the al-Maliki government.

....

U.S. Embassy officials refused to say why Khalilzad accompanied Allawi on the trip to Kurdistan or what was discussed during the talks.

But the Kurdistan visit was interpreted by many in Baghdad as a public display of support for Allawi by the U.S. It was also seen as a warning to Maliki that he cannot count on continued U.S. support if his Shiite-led government does not deliver on a range of promises intended to end the simmering sectarian conflict and bring about real reconciliation with Sunnis.

[OHdem10]

1. Tsk, Tsk---so much for this Democracy Stuff--

What we need is a "strong"man. You know
one of those guys with a "strong arm"

[saigon68]

3. Chalabi STANDS READY to assume the NeoCon throne

[Purveyor]

4. And don't you doubt it! One reason for the lack of stability in Iraq is that

the neocons haven't installed the gov't they selected.

[saigon68]

6. And once the NEOCONs install said Government

We will only hear "Good things"

The military contols the press the way the Kremlin controls Pravada

[JDPriestly]

What? Are you saying we didn't invade Iraq to establish democracy?

I thought Maliki was elected and the election meant we had given democracy to Iraq.

Granted the WMDs and the terrorists in Iraq were a hoax, but surely the bit about holding democratic elections wasn't just a ruse. What a shock. LOL

[IndianaGreen]

2. Allawi's party was badly defeated at the polls

Putting the secular thug Allawi in power, a very pragmatic move IMHO, would also lay bare the lie about Iraq having a sovereign government.

I don't think Iran and the religious Shias will just sit quietly in the background and let this happen.

[acmavm]

5. And neither do I.