Iraqi Government Official - "Iraq As A Political Project Is Finished"

[DistressedAmerican]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13977398/

-SNIP-

Car bombs kills at least 50 in Iraq
More than 35 die in market blast in Baghdad; Kirkuk attack kills 15

Signs of despair
Maliki, a tough-talking Islamist, strongly urged Iraqis to embrace peaceful politics during a break from the talks in Baghdad’s heavily fortified government headquarters.

“Those who oppose the political process want to return to dictatorship,” he told a news conference, standing beside the president, a Kurd, and the Sunni speaker of parliament.

So far, Maliki’s 24-point reconciliation plan, long on promises but short on detail, has failed to stem the violence, which the United Nations says may be killing 100 people a day.

Iraq leaders have admitted they despair of being able to avert all-out civil war. “Iraq as a political project is finished,” a top government official told Reuters.

Iraqi and U.S. officials now believe sectarian militias are killing more Iraqis and pose a greater security threat than the insurgency, though this is still a major destabilizing force.

The U.S. military said its troops, backed by Iraqi troops and police, killed 15 fighters in a three-hour gunbattle near a Shi’ite mosque at Mussayab, south of Baghdad. Two U.S. soldiers were also killed around Baghdad on Saturday.

Bush is under pressure to show progress in Iraq, clearing the way for U.S. troop cuts, as his Republicans face elections in November with their control of the U.S. Congress at stake.

Five weeks after Bush visited Baghdad to give his blessing to the new Maliki government, thousands of Iraqis have been killed in suicide bombings and communal attacks.

[Selatius]

1. We have lost in Iraq.

However we leave, we will leave humbled and humilitated.

[Bluebear]

2. Us? Humbled?

*That* could happen.