We might finally have a winner from the March election in Iraq:
Powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has agreed to support the bid by Iraq’s prime minister to retain power, aides said Friday, in a move that could speed an end to the seven-month political impasse and bring dealmaking that may give key concessions to al-Sadr’s anti-American bloc.
The decision by al-Sadr would mark a significant boost for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s Shiite-led coalition to secure enough parliament seats to form a new government.
….Al-Sadr’s move apparently sets aside past animosity with al-Maliki for a chance to gain a greater voice in a possible new government. Al-Sadr — who has been in self-exile in Iran since 2007 — has denounced al-Maliki’s government for its close ties to Washington and a joint security pact that allows U.S. military presence through at least the end of next year.
So we get the same old Maliki government, but with a greater role for Muqtada al-Sadr. I can’t say this fills me with hope for Iraq’s future, but I suppose it fills me with relief that they’re at least going to have a government of some kind. Stay tuned.
