tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post4962565284209884948..comments2024-02-29T12:38:32.191-08:00Comments on MUSINGS ON IRAQ: USIP Report On Iraqi Politics and The 2010 Parliamentary ElectionsJoel Winghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-53927820416587411212009-06-06T11:02:37.124-07:002009-06-06T11:02:37.124-07:00My reading of Iraqi politics since 2008 would tend...My reading of Iraqi politics since 2008 would tend to agree with the USIP observations of national Iraqi politics. <br /><br />Look at the results of the 2009 provincial elections and the maneuvers done afterwards. Maliki's State of Law came out on top, although without a majority. He then had talks with any and everyone to form ruling coalitions. <br /><br />Also look at Maliki's moves since Basra in 2008. He has built up popular support, created patronage systems through Tribal Support Councils, strengthened his hold on the military, and moved away from the Kurds and SIIC. The ruling Kurdish parties are now all focused upon Maliki, the Supreme Council is trying to figure out whether they can work with him, and the Islamic Party are trying to balance him with a stronger parliament with the new speaker Summarie. These are all things I've consistently read about before the USIP report was issued. <br /><br />In fact I just read this new paper, "Kurds in Iraq: the struggle between Baghdad and Erbil" in Middle East Policy March 09 that says much of the same thing about Maliki's centrality in Iraqi politics. <br /><br />Do you have an alternative view?Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-27947160382178788432009-06-06T09:41:56.116-07:002009-06-06T09:41:56.116-07:00Good to see you don't bother with trivia like ...Good to see you don't bother with trivia like a certain degree of scepticism about the motivations of USIP.<br /><br />I thought all our discussions last year about the SOFA had well shown that you have to treat what USIP has to say delicately. It is scarcely an independent institution.Alex_nonoreply@blogger.com