So, the recruiting material for AQI increases, even as Iraqi Special Forces and intelligence capability begins its perilous journey in the absence of significant U.S. has handed the country to Iran “on a golden plate” may be correct. If, as it has been alleged, al-Sadr was under Iranian pressure to back Maliki, Iraqi’s who say the U.S. He is increasingly turning to Moqtada al-Sadr to beef up his parliamentary majority. Can Iraq’s increasingly disenfranchised Sunni minority tolerate this, or will they once again succumb to the narrative of al-Qaeda?įar from combating that narrative, Maliki is strengthening it. Demonstrations and dissenting journalism have so far been met with pro government thuggery. Other provinces have spoken of autonomy purely citing Baghdad’s ineptitude.

Salahaddin province recently declared autonomy in the wake of the recent purge. While politics in Iraqi parliament is in a state of paralytic deadlock, Maliki’s actions are increasingly fomenting division. Seasoned observers, including Jack Keane, Reider Visser, Frederick Kagan and Joel Wing have all expressed grave concern in recent months. A Shia dominated Government is failing miserably on corruption and human rights and the recent arrest of over 600 Sunni’s accused of plotting a coup was widely condemned as a crude sectarian purge.Īccording to The International Crisis Group, anti-corruption efforts in Iraq are now actually in decline, subject to political interference from an increasingly arrogant kleptocracy. On the surface, the signs are distinctly troubling. troops depart Iraq, there remain many questions as to what kind of nation they leave behind. Nouri Al Maliki, following the massacre of 22 Shia pilgrims in September.Īs the last U.S. Iraqi tribes and wise men have eased the tension meant to spur sectarian discord between Karbala and Anbar.

Peace through power kane