The blogosphere was all over it.

I remember hearing some chatter about the impending doom of the Maliki government. I don't pretend to know what is really happening behind the scenes in the State Department or Pentagon, much less inside the dark chamber known as the Vice President's office to even begin to understand the motives of those unnamed US officials.

I also remember thinking that speculation about the future of Prime Minister Maliki should have won some sort of award for going above and beyond the usual missing of the point!

The Iraqi government is dysfunctional - not as a result of who happens to be the Prime Minister but because the very structure of the government prevents it from functioning. The real obstacle that is preventing Iraq from moving toward a functioning democracy is the blind faith that everyone seems to put in the misguided assumption that a strong central government can materialize anytime soon in the midst of a civil war. To date, there has been zero evidence that such a government will succeed in garnering the trust of all Iraqis or in developing the capacity and inclination to deliver security and services throughout Baghdad, let alone the rest of the country.

It seems to me that, until Iraq gets serious about moving toward a federal system, as outlined in their own constitution and as advocated by Senator Biden, that country will slip inevitably down the path to increased sectarian violence and all out civil war.

It actually made it up on HuffPost, since I personally approved it! I don't know what's up with their comments these days, they seem to be awfully squirrily...

Elizabeth -

I replied to you (and loslobo) over at HuffPost, but your comment reminded me of something. When researching this article, I came across something interesting suggesting that American (State Dept, I think, could be wrong) "unnamed officials" were talking up the possibility that Maliki's hold on the government was slipping, and that he could be replaced soon. Unfortunately, my browser died right after I read it, and when I searched again I found other articles with the info I needed. But it's an interesting data point that this was being leaked right now (right when Maliki is standing up to US diplomats). Either it's wishful thinking on some diplomat's part, or a crude warning to Maliki. Or something. I don't entirely know what to make of it, to tell you the truth. Sorry I don't have a link to it, but keep your eyes open for such mutterings in the next few weeks, is what I'd have to say.

-CW

I only hope your focus would turn to the travesty happening in the House of Representatives with the impeachment proceedings. If Vincent Bugliosi can write a book for anyone doubting the legitimacy of Kucinich's efforts, and still be ignorant of Truthers as shown on Book TV this weekend is amazing. When the ridiculous is given as fact, and the obvious is ridiculed; then any illusion of democracy has been pulverized like WTC concrete.
Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:38 AM on 07/17/2008

I really doubt this will make it on Huff, so let me expand it here. You and I know this country is going nowhere without control of the oil, period. Puppets will be replaced (ask Saddam, you do remember he was an incompetent CIA assassin?) if they don’t play ball. The NEO-CON's wouldn’t kill their own people, and then let the prize slip away.

The only hope for this country is for the overwhelmed, misinformed citizens to wake up and realize what this country has become. A real investigation would be a start. The real connection between 9/11 and Iraq is one was the means and other is the prize. The rest is just smoke and mirrors.

I am confused. Granted, it doesn’t take much...these days. But, when you say that the Iraq war may soon be ending, I am assuming that what you actually mean is that US military involvement in Iraq may soon be ending. Whether or not there is a new mandate for the presence of US forces in Iraq, or an extension of the old UN mandate, is really a moot point...isn’t it? Because a mandate, or lack thereof, will do nothing to end the ongoing civil war between Sunni and Shi’a or the intra-fighting between the various Shi’a sects, all in the name of a grand struggle for power and resources.

A complicating factor in all of this is the reality that Iraq is not a functioning democracy - not by a long shot! The Maliki government does not exert control over the whole of Baghdad, let alone the rest of the country. And, we are no longer talking merely about the three major groups in Iraq being at political odds with each other but many factions within the Sunni and Shia, each with their own militias and with their own political agendas.

I feel like I’m in the twilight zone with all of this talk about the Maliki government and the upcoming elections in Iraq as if a strong central government even exists or has any reasonable prospect of materializing and sustaining itself anytime soon, or in the near to medium term.

There has been no sign, whatsoever, of a diplomatic surge to promote a political solution that would pave the way toward a functioning democracy despite the fact that everyone agrees that there is no (practical) military solution in Iraq - if the endgame is still a stable Iraq able to govern itself, defend itself and live in peace with its neighbors. Maybe, while I wasn’t looking, the endgame changed to become simply the removal of US forces from Iraq without any effort to move toward a sustainable power-sharing arrangement between the warring Iraqi factions. If that is the case, then the withdrawal is long overdue and it needs to include all US civilians (say good-bye to that monstrosity known as the US Embassy in Baghdad - no great loss, by the way) and all Iraqis who have risked their lives to assist coalition forces.

And that may lead to a whole other epitaph for America’s involvement in Iraq.