Meanwhile in Iraqi Kurdistan, Barzani’s immediate reaction to the mobilization of Iraqi troops in the disputed areas may have appeared to be a spur-of-the-moment thing - but it is clear that his muscle-flexing has not been devoid of calculation.
For the first time in years, Iraqi Kurdistan’s ruling and opposition parties, and the region’s partisan and private media alike, felt morally obliged to unite in the face of what was increasingly perceived as a “threat” from the Iraqi army. Even the Change movement, a major opposition party usually strongly opposed to the Iraqi Kurdish regional government, lent its voice to Barzani’s cause.
Perhaps most importantly though, Barzani succeeded in bringing the Iraqi president, Jalal Talabani, back on side. For some months now, Barzani has run the risk of losing the support of Talabani, his main ally; together the two politicians have ruled Iraqi Kurdistan within the bounds of a power-sharing agreement for the past five years.
The two traditional allies, who head the two major parties in Iraqi Kurdistan, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, have recently disagreed on several key political issues, including the region’s relationship to the central government, their all-important 2007 strategic, power-sharing agreement as well as Iraqi Kurdistan’s draft constitution.
While Barzani was busy behind a pan-political effort to oust al-Maliki, that included him calling the current Prime Minister a dictator, Talabani was taking a more conciliatory tone. However al-Maliki has recently managed to upset the elder statesman, Talabani, too – mainly by failing to fulfill his “promise” to Talabani to disband a controversial military taskforce stationed in the disputed areas. Known as the Tigris Operations Command, the latter was set up on al-Maliki’s orders to take responsibility for security in the areas of Diyala, Salahaddin and Kirkuk, all of which border the Kurdistan Region and some of which contain disputed territories.
Do you think that Sunni Arabs are nuts? Lost memory? Have they forgoten the assesination attempt of al-Hashimi? Trying to disarm the saadrist militia? To use the Iraqi federal army for a power game against iraqi citizens with the "wrong" political support?
Maliki's "divide and conquer" policy has failed against the kurds as the article is concluding. The same thing will happens with the Sunnis.
If you realize that Maliki is fighting for a political survival, risking to not receive support from kurds nor sunnis and not enough shias. The conclusion is obvious. Maliki is no more after elections. Unless, he uses his federal army to dissolve the Parliament and become the new dictator of Iraq.
One of my major concerns right now is that Malikis cabinet is out of control for the Iraqi Parliament. The deeds of Maliki are clear. The cabinet or Maliki government is out of reach and do what it wants without consulting the Parliament of Iraq.
I do not grasp how the iraqi people tolerates such behaviour, how the impotent Parliament accepts such role and what the heck is the USA is doing when they eat popcorn and wath the Iraqi match?
Well Uncle Sam, have the Sunni Arabs lost memory? Ask this question to yourself. What do you think was the main factor for the first no-confidence vote to fail? Because many Sunnis in the disputed areas backed down from the effort! Disarming Sadrist militia has nothing to do with Sunnis. The Hashimi's execution has not taken place. Don't forget that.
Al-Maliki did not divide and conquer - the Kurdish leaders themselves were divided - and there is mote to this than just minor politicking of course.
Al-Maliki is not after elections? And who do you think will lead the State of Law Coalition in the April provincial poll? Election not necessarily means a parliamentary election. The writer made it clear that the premier only needs some breathing space for the provincial election in April; which is very crucial and is a big test ahead of 2014 parliamentary election.
Observer. Iraq is the country of the blinds where the one eyed is the PM. Yes, divide and conquer policy has a track record of success so far. The concentration of power in one person is only possible in a divided society like Iraq.
In democratic countries the Parliament is the ultimate responsible for the state of the country. Not in Iraq, it is the Cabinet. I do not know if this is hypocrisy or pure impotence. Whatever the reason, the situation is bad and going to worse.
Sorry too many brown noses and tolerance/acceptance for corruption due to immunity.
If Iraq is one of the most corrupted countries in the world, I believe that Maliki has "something" to do with it, or is he not in top of what his cabinet is doing?
I am not kurd nor arab. Just one more invesor who avoids Baghdad and have choosen Erbil.
What the heck is the USA doing or planning for Iraq? Right now, they are eating popcorn and watching the game. l
But you chose Erbil because you think Al-Maliki is corrupt but Barzani is not?
You hear about Al-Maliki government's corruption precisely due to the democratic measures that allow such thorough auditing! And it is exactly for the opposite reason that you will not hear about Barzani's.
Wish your investment well.
Corruption is in all over Iraq including Kurdistan. The kurdish society is in a better shape that the Basras, Baghdads of this world. Obviously, there is a popular democratic support for the Talibanis and Barzanis of this world.
But you are right, corruption sucks in all over Iraq. Kurdistan is less corrupted and some perceived corruption in Kurdistan is due to the political power games with Baghdad or rather Maliki.
What do you do when Baghdad is taking the oil from Kurdistan but not paying it to the KRG and indirectly to the oil companies? What does Maliki do when the kurds refuse to send more oil to the Kirkuk Ceyhan pipelines and contracts with customers are not honoured? The waiting lead time in June off Ceyhan was of 21 days!
Sorry, not much brains from Baghdad or don't care for consequences of any kind both commercial or political. There are a serie of four documents published in among other newspapers Rudaw about corruption in Iraq. One reason for the lack of brains in the government has been the forge of more than 2,000 academic or university titles which made possible to put incompetent party people in the administration. Cases like food rations thefts and kick backs, the money laundering of Central Bank of Iraq, the russian weapon deal etc etc.
The cases of corruption found in Baghdad came from the IG's, the Supreme Board of Audit. SIGR etc until they reported directy to members of the Cabinet or Dawa Party. Well, most of my information is coming from reports from the US Embassy. In Erbil, there is a ver vocal opposition in the Gorran and well, it sounds like if I was in love with Kurdistan, but it is just that business are possible in Kurdistan.
The democracy in Iraq is an issue for the Iraqis. You get what you vote to the power. But agree with me that this kind of behaviour from Maliki is not so little baathist, or?