Maliki and the arduous task of winning a third term as prime minister of Iraq

[yota691]

Maliki and the arduous task of winning a third term as prime minister of Iraq

Tue Apr 29, 2014 12:28 pm GMT

 

 

End of Parker and Raheem Salman

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Nuri al-Maliki lifted his arm, waving to the pioneers of a Baghdad restaurant where the food he ate in 2008 was the gesture confirmation of his reputation as the man who restored a measure of the manifestations of the normal life of the city, which is about the destruction of the civil war.

Now re-Maliki appearing among the people so he went wandering in the streets of the city to prove that he fully aware of their problems, which induce voters to vote for him to win a third term as prime minister of Iraq when casting their ballots in the elections on Wednesday.

Maliki and louder rumbling in the office to register cars during the tour, which broadcast TV and proceedings last month, he says, people who were standing waiting outside under the sun, although suffering from "sitting behind his desk and cooling on the head relieved and the citizen is the one who suffers."

However, the rise in violence to its highest level since Maliki challenged the armed militias in 2008 weakens this message. Maliki still tops ‭ ‭ ‬ ‬ race but tread lightly around him and his opponents may be able to defeat if they can overcome great obstacles.

Slowly approaching the attack began a year ago, Sunni insurgents inspired by al-Qaeda from the Iraqi capital as the Shi'ite militias, often operating in the ranks of the security forces carried out reprisals against Sunni residential communities which weakens the position of the Maliki government.

In March alone fell 180 dead and 477 wounded among civilians in Baghdad alone among the more than 2,000 people dead across Iraq since the beginning of the year.

Typically, shows al-Maliki in meetings and behind the curtain closed and security is his usual revenge on the perpetrators of the bombings that have become familiar, hinting again in the lives of Iraqis and criticism of his political opponents, who say they are determined to harm it.

Over the past eight years has focused Maliki's power in his hand Vchgl himself and the defense and interior ministries and security in addition to the prime minister and give him an advantage electoral An example of this attack, which began on Sunni insurgents in the past year.

But that created him enemies among the leaders of the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds alike, and opponents say they are willing to renounce sectarian differences in order to remove him from the prime minister.

 

* Better than others

Maliki portrays himself as a man who prevents the Sunni extremists in Iraq's Anbar province in Syria from harm and that their co-religionists in stark contrast to his non-sectarian in the previous elections in March 2010, before a year and half of the U.S. troop withdrawal.

And disappeared for a long time the language of the pledge of national unity, which was spoken in the past.

In a speech this month, al-Maliki accused his political opponents to undermine the ongoing battle in Anbar, which led to a deadlock in the position of the two sides for months. It is estimated by some in the Iraqi security services to more than a thousand soldiers from the Shiites were killed and thousands of others fled from serving in the military with mounting complaints of uniformed soldiers Shiites that their leadership did not provide them with equipment and training necessary to achieve victory.

Maliki said: "With great regret, at a time when our military is facing these killers and criminals, stabbed in the back by politicians, is accused in the faith."

Perhaps he wants the Iraqis, including the Shiite majority leader last, but many can not imagine an alternative to the owners and say it better.

Maliki's aides say that the war on the organization of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Anbar province west of Baghdad, going in his favor.

He said one of his advisers "before the events of Anbar was Shiite citizens are unhappy with public services and Maliki was seen as a weak .. but then after the events of Anbar became a people view him as a man of strong and he is right to use force against these people .. and that there is a sectarian flavor in it."

He warned of a tribal leader from the north of Baghdad last week that his successor will have to rebuild the military command relied on al-Maliki at a time when state regulation of Islamic fighters in Iraq and the Levant at a distance of 26 kilometers from Baghdad and became they could get access to the Shi'ite neighborhoods.

According to the mass of the Iraqi citizen that combines two of his former opponents are ISCI and the Sadrist movement led by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said that if al-Maliki remained prime minister has torn Iraq. He hopes the two can lead to fragmentation of the vote gave them a chance to win.

One of the most important bloc candidates citizen is Bayan Jabr, a former interior minister who says the year he was allowed to manage militias, death squads under the guise of police in 2005. Jabr denies the charge.

He says that Jabr al-Maliki mismanaged the war and that his moment of glory after putting an end to the civil war in 2008 has ended a long time ago.

Jabor said to Reuters: "We are now in 2014, and can not refer to eight years back and I think that the future of Iraq if this remains the current performance ... Siczy Iraq be divided."

 

* "Luckiest"

Also, the opponents of Maliki and Sunni Kurds have their grievances him eight years ago.

Understanding criticize him not to involve them in power with him in his second term after the agreement on assuming responsibility for the organs of defense, interior and intelligence.

There was also anger at the prosecution Sunni Vice President and Minister of Finance and his escape from Iraq since U.S. troops left at the end of 2011.

He joined most of his opponents in the no-confidence vote in 2012, but the move failed. But they gathered once again driven by resentment of the man who was chosen in 2006 as a compromise candidate weak Everyone was believed to be flexible.

There are indications that the popularity of the Shiite al-Maliki, a protection Thtre began in the south, where Shiites account for the majority of the population. The crowd of protesters chanted slogans accusing Maliki of lying in Nasiriyah because of a promise to build more housing units.

One of the most disturbing factors to the Prime Minister that senior Shiite clerics began to oppose it.

Said Ayatollah Bashir al-Najafi, one of the four largest Shiite religious leaders over the weekend that his followers not to vote for the owners because of the war effort failed in Anbar and corruption charges that draws many of his administration.

And is looking forward to follow the views of millions of senior clerics, but the influence of al-Najafi is the least among the ayatollahs.

So far, al-Maliki bucking all expectations, to the extent that some Iraqi politicians described him as Ofer men fortunate.

Maliki has adopted in his quest to hold on to power as a quantum well known in the chaotic country. In the current election did not show neither the U.S. nor Iran agreeing to al-Maliki or refusing him. And cares about all of Washington and Tehran stability is expected to endorse the candidate who feels that he can ensure the return to calm the situation quickly.

Maliki adviser predicted an increase share of the Prime Minister of the seats in parliament to 90 seats out of 70 seats were advisers expect an attack by al-Anbar.

Late last year, observers say that ordinary Iraqis are becoming aware of the shortcomings of the campaign Anbar. But in the absence of reliable opinion polls, remains a mystery voting trends.

A Western diplomat said that the significant increase appeared to be in support of the Shiites to the owners by the battle in Anbar may not continue.

The diplomat said, "With the passage of time if this does not resolve the conflict or not achieved tangible progress there is a risk that the public is losing patience with the Shiites and begin to look at the other leaders of the Shiites."

If the back of the leader of another such support enjoyed by the source of the seriousness of the al-Maliki prepared to meet him has tested opponents in very difficult situations.

He described his adviser to attack the city of Fallujah in Anbar, which lies under the control of insurgents as another paper could play in his quest for survival.

Even Maliki's opponents concede that their differences could undermine their position with a different Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis on key positions.

The government consists of a set of arrangements and take the head of state, which is approved by a majority of two-thirds of the members of Parliament appoint the prime minister to form a government.

Kurds and served as president since 2005 and is looking forward now to the year this position, which may contribute to the complex negotiating process may take a long time, which would be in favor of al-Maliki.

The lawyer said Prince Kanani MP from the Sadrist bloc, "The next government will either quickly or that formed it would take more than a year .. and it would be dangerous."

"And if it continues this government as a government emergency (due to fighting), people will push the masses to accept al-Maliki.

And perhaps abandon Maliki's allies in the coalition of state law, if he felt that it may not be able to get a majority. Perhaps nominated his national security adviser Falah al-Fayyad or former chief of staff Tariq Najim or MP Haider Abadi.

It is the candidates of the mass of citizens also former Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi and Ahmad Chalabi, a secular Shiite. But these candidates may be reluctant if the agreement to form a government with the Sunnis and Kurds will break Shi'ite solidarity.

For the owners leave the office would mean the end of a long way in the political life since his years in exile in Iran and Syria.

Having lost 67 of his relatives because Saddam Hussein was dreaming after al-Maliki in 2003 to work in the orchards. But he found himself in Baghdad, and now has become the face of what may prove to be the final chapter in his story. But he is not ready to go.

 

 

(Munir Bawīti preparation for the Arab Bulletin - Edit Ola Shawky)

 

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[uncirculd]

Hold that thought for voting.

[calkid11]

Good post thank you