Heck of a job, Maliki!

[tocqueville]

By Sami Moubayed

DAMASCUS - This Friday marks exactly the 150th day of Nuri al-Maliki's tenure as prime minister of Iraq. Usually in democracies, the performance of a prime minister and his government is measured by the first 100 days in office. Even with the extra 50 days, Maliki has failed completely to bring security to Iraq.

He has failed to disarm the militias. And he has failed to bring about economic reforms, in addition to being unable to combat unemployment or prevent the immigration of Iraqi youth. The Ministry of Interior under Maliki is swarming with armed Shi'ite militias, just as it was under his predecessor, Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

The Iraqi police have been infiltrated by militiamen, who are using official equipment and funds to kill other Iraqis in the Iraqi Army, controlled by the Sunnis. Death squads roam the streets, killing over 100 Iraqis per day. Under Maliki, the death toll has risen to over 3,000 Iraqis killed per month. On the anniversary of his 150th day in power, 50 people were killed in Mosul, Kirkuk and Baquba, and another 100 were wounded, while 33 unidentified bodies - all shot in the head, were found in Baghdad. Earlier in the week, 60 beheaded bodies were found.

Under Maliki, al-Qaeda has not been weakened by the death of its leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. On the contrary, this month the group declared an Islamic republic in Iraq, proving that, if anything, it is not weaker but more determined to seize power and create a Taliban-like regime.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HJ21Ak02.html

read the whole serie here :

THE DEATH THROES OF IRAQ

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
During his 150 days at the helm, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, with President George W Bush's "full support", has overseen a dramatic deterioration of the country, writes Sami Moubayed. Death squads, militias and insurgents are running rampant, and so bad is the violence that rumors of a coup attempt are gaining credibility. This would install a Saddam-like strongman to rule with a heavy hand, says Robert Dreyfuss. It all adds to the pressure on Bush to set a timetable for withdrawal - even former allies are joining the call, reports Jim Lobe.

Heck of a job, Maliki! - Sami Moubayed

A coup in the air - Robert Dreyfuss

Endgame coming, ready or not - Jim Lobe

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page.html

[magellan]

1. I think it's laughable

...that anyone expects Maliki and his government to wield any kind of real power from the Green Zone than what they've got: US forces and militia factions. Both of which are unsuitable to the idea of promoting security and democracy.

[partylessinOhio]

2. But, but, if he did a heck of a job, * would have him killed!