Lag in Forming Iraq Government Troublesome

[deadparrot]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi efforts to form a government are only now beginning in earnest nearly two months after key elections, and the hard bargaining could take weeks — if not months — to produce a new leadership. That could delay the eventual drawdown of U.S. forces.

American diplomats are putting intense pressure on the Iraqis to agree quickly on a government to include Shiites, Kurds and Sunni Arabs, the community that forms the backbone of the insurgency.

Until a new government is in place, it is unlikely the United States and its coalition partners can move to the next step — pulling out some of the 160,000-strong multinational force. The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, has said he may recommend cutbacks this spring.

Major roadblocks stand in the way of a deal for a new government, and thus for any drawdowns — including control of the country's security forces, a definition of terrorism, unfinished business on the new constitution and the deep distrust fanned by tit-for-tat killings.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060202/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_no_government_yet

[roseBudd]

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