Iraq Misses Mark on US Demands

Sectarian political deadlock stymies progress on mandated milestones
By Greg Atwan,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 13, 2007 8:13 AM CDT
Iraq Misses Mark on US Demands
In this image released by the Iraqi Government, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, left, talks during his meeting with Iraqi governors in Baghdad, Sunday, June 3, 2007. Maliki said "We need a stable democratic united Iraq , with justice and equality among all and not the Iraq wanted by others as...   (Associated Press)

The Iraqi government has flubbed virtually all of the legal benchmarks proscribed by the US occupation. Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish blocs in Iraq's legislature have so far failed to agree on watershed issues like distributing oil wealth, debaathification, and curbing sectarian violence; now scorekeepers are saying no major legislation will make it through this year.

The Times reports that legislative power is balkanizing in Iraq, with local governments seizing control from Baghdad and local factions blocking progress on critical federal issues. Powerful figures like PM Nouri al-Maliki, Ahmad Chalabi, and Ayatollah Sistani have proven intractable in forging compromise, disappointing the White House and Congress. (More Iraq stories.)

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