US raises pressure on Iraq's leader
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki must show greater political progress to satisfy Washington.
from the May 10, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 4
Shiites worry about diluted power
Some Iraqi political movements are pressing for a more nationalist political approach, while others – the largest Shiite parties in particular – fear that direction means a dilution of their power.
Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's political movement, which is virulently opposed to the US military presence in Iraq, is crucial to Maliki's survival. The group is attempting to fashion a more nationalist and less sectarian image. As a result, it is reevaluating its participation in the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), the parliamentary majority behind Maliki, officials within the organization say.
"We are with Maliki to make the government a success if he acts to fix the government's wrong approach," says Bahaa al-Aaraji, a senior member of the Sadrist parliamentary bloc, pointing to ministries' sectarian-based operations as an example of a "mistake." "But if he doesn't succeed in changing that, we are not with him."
The Sadrists last month withdrew six ministers from the Maliki government, while leaving their bloc of 30 legislators in the UIA.
Sadrist legislators say the policy reevaluation – which they are calling "reform and reconciliation" – could mean a further distancing from the Maliki government.
"We want to build a state, not just a government that can change, and to build that state we should include all Iraqis supporting a nationalist project," says Mr. al-Aaraji.
This "project" explains meetings that Sadrists are holding with Sunni clerics, tribal sheikhs, and Sunni political parties, he says, adding that while it is not aimed at scuttling the Maliki government, it does put pressure on him to change.
One target of the Sadrist pressure is Maliki's close association with the US military. The prime minister's dependence on the Bush administration is both necessary and a handicap for him, many experts say.
"Maliki has no choice but to go with the Bush policy, just as Bush has no alternative but to back up Maliki," says Fadhil. "They are in this boat together."
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