tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post84996378171826198..comments2024-02-29T12:38:32.191-08:00Comments on MUSINGS ON IRAQ: Old And New Alliances Argue Over Control Of Diyala Provincial CouncilJoel Winghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-3702414495535846422009-04-20T19:50:00.000-07:002009-04-20T19:50:00.000-07:00All of those that were wanted by the police on the...All of those that were wanted by the police on the new council were members of the Iraqi Accordance Front. I suspected as much but no specifics were recorded until today's Niqash.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-41331467233415921162009-04-20T07:00:00.000-07:002009-04-20T07:00:00.000-07:00Thanks for the compliments. I'm working hard to ke...Thanks for the compliments. I'm working hard to keep pumping out these articles. Glad you enjoyed them.<br /><br />As for the questions, I originally wrote that there were 3 arrest warrants issued for members of the Diyala council, but I had more sources that said 6 so I went with that.<br /><br />Reidar Visser in his latest article said that the State of Law was trying to form an alliance with the SIIC in Maysan but that hasn't happened yet. <br /><br />In Wasit, the former governor who was a Sadrist was re-elected after being pushed through by the Supreme Council. State of Law was originally protesting his nomination at first, but they seemed to have given up. <br /><br />Later today I'm going to post a story about who's been name where so far in the provincial councils.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-77671376450812590892009-04-19T22:28:00.000-07:002009-04-19T22:28:00.000-07:00I'll echo Dominic's point that this is excellent a...I'll echo Dominic's point that this is excellent analysis.<br /><br />A couple minor comments. In two places (the number of arrest warrants for members of the Provincial Council and the number of protesters) you have sources that quote a range of numbers and mention the higher numbers in your article. I suspect that the lower numbers are closer to the truth - with the caveat that I am referring only to the number of warrants shown (the police may have warrants for all 29 members in pocket somewhere).<br /><br />The interplay between Baghdad forces and local forces is still ongoing. There are several positions yet to be assigned (Second Deputy Governor, Assistant Governors, Committee Chairs) - don't be surprised to see "opposition" figures in some of those seats in Diyala.<br /><br />Also - I think there is a southern province with a Dawa - Supreme Council alliance despite earlier speculation that Dawa would align with the Sadrists.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-20892212254986517062009-04-19T16:29:00.000-07:002009-04-19T16:29:00.000-07:00This is some of the best analysis of Iraqi politic...This is some of the best analysis of Iraqi politics I've seen on the web. It's hard to find in depth English language reporting and analysis, especially on politics at the provincial level. Can you please send your latest posting in the Baghdad Provincial Council to "dominic.bellone@gmail.com"? Thank you. I greatly appreciate it.Dominicnoreply@blogger.com