Their Political Space

Today, the neighbor’s conference was an assertive and strong demonstration of political action. Maliki opened the day by urging the attendant nations to come to Iraq and his government’s defense against the violence of the insurgency. Whatever the results, the simple act of being able to put something like this together on the ground in Iraq is an achievement.

“Security was extremely tight as envoys gathered in Iraq’s Foreign Ministry, which is outside the heavily protected Green Zone. Shortly after the meeting began, at least two mortar shells hit near the Foreign Ministry. There were no casualties.”

Political maneuvering can also be seen on the domestic front. ItM reports:

“The political scene in Iraq these days is registering a level of activity like we haven’t seen since right after the elections”

The United Iraqi Alliance, the Shiite majority bloc in parliament, is showing some signs of wear according to the BBC. Former Prime Minister Iyad Alawi’s new alliance with some Sunni factions seems to be gaining from the majority’s defections.

ItM again:

“This morning, in a frank challenge to ayatollah Sistani’s earlier call for preserving the UIA’s unity, the head of al-Fadheela party -which controls 15 of its 130 seats- declared independence from the Shia bloc and said his team now would act as an independent bloc within parliament.”

Not the best news for Maliki’s government which relies on the UIA for it’s political strength, but a sign that power is redistributing along non-sectarian secular lines. When that happens, we can find new avenues of communication and possibilities for compromise, hopefully.

The fact that this is all happening as Operation Law and Order nears its second month, gives the indication that whatever the effects on the actual insurgency, the new security posture is giving lawmakers and leaders the impetus and confidence to do their jobs.