Is Iraq's movement toward political reform a step toward a unified Iraq or just another sign of cleavage?

Institute For The Study of War — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 14:34:16 -0400

The government of Iraq is planning sweeping political reforms and attempting to reshuffle the cabinet. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is even calling for the elimination of the Vice President and Deputy Prime Ministers positions. These officials include former Prime Minister and current Vice President Nouri al-Maliki, a rival of Haider al-Abadi. These events mark the first anniversary of the formation of current Prime Minister (PM) Haider al-Abadi’s government. Iraq’s leading religious figure, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, is actively backing the Prime Minister and thereby pressuring Shi’a political parties to comply. The Sadrist Trend and the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), two of Abadi’s major, Shi’a coalition partners, have supported the reforms, which will go to Iraq’s Parliament on August 11. It remains to be seen whether they pass and whether the officials will step down.

Sistani is involved not only to reaffirm Abadi as premier, but also to protect him against removal by rivals. Qais Khazali, the leader of Asai’ab Ahl al-Haq (AAH), the Iranian-backed Shi’a militia, called for Abadi’s resignation on August 7. AAH has lately joined former media outlets favorable to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in calling for replacing Iraq’s parliamentary system with a presidential system, in which Iraq’s leader would be selected by popular vote, rather than a vote among members of parliament. Maliki has been trying to position himself as the preferred political candidate of Shi’a militias and likely sees himself as a possible next leader of Iraq. Supporting a presidential system would thereby give Maliki a greater chance of being elected without being beholden to party deliberations over who becomes PM.

Read the rest of ISW's analysis here: http://iswiraq.blogspot.com/2015/08/iraqs-prime-minister-haider-al-abadi.html

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2015 2:37 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 14:37:08 -0400

It is a total mess and hard to know what is what with the region.....

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 11 at 2015 2:39 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 14:39:43 -0400

Only time wil tell!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2015 2:53 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 14:53:31 -0400

The Iraqi government needs to continue its quest towards stabilization and unification. The less involvement from internal and external negative influences will reap benefits for the country, which struggles to maintain legitimacy in the eyes of her enemies.

Any step is a step in the right direction. However the consolidation of power by removing the Deputy Prime Ministers and VP posts could prove to backfire down road.

I'm generally curious how the KDP and PUK vote and whether Sistani's influence is able to sway the vote, as was the case with Maliki's removal.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Aug 11 at 2015 3:04 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 15:04:57 -0400

It's,hopeful that Iraq,can regain its territory and consolidate its government to be more inclusive.The concept of sovereignty which is one of the factors in a nation state must be maintained.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Aug 11 at 2015 3:10 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 15:10:45 -0400

A new wonderful account of heroism despite his personal belief system he performed heroic deeds to rescue his fellow soldiers...no greater love...

Response by CW3 Eric W. S. made Aug 11 at 2015 4:01 PM

CW3 Eric W. S. — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 16:01:29 -0400

Sorry, Hope is not a course of action. Iraq is an overly volatile location that does not have the capability to change in the near term.

Response by SSG Richard Hackwith made Aug 12 at 2015 5:19 PM

SSG Richard Hackwith — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 17:19:41 -0400

Any deep rooted sectarian divide is hard to overcome. For example it took a few hundred years to calm down Northern Ireland, they were far more civilized to start with. In the case of religious conflict each side considers themselves the most holy and favored of God and considers the other side sub-human infidels that must be wiped out. The concept of nationality is new to the region, the boundaries were arbitrarily created by the British at the end of WW I. While the people tend view everything through sectarian and tribal eyes . As long as there is a religious influence in the government and religious bigotry in the society there will be no unity. Seeing as Islam is steadfastly impervious to change, it will be a very long time till you see unity in Iraq. Lacking unity, the only way to bring stability would be by having another strong dictator to control the factions.