political reconciliation

An unfortunate setback, but my guess is that somebody will fill Sheik Ibrahim al-Karbouli’s shoes quickly.

Iraq is now starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel, and whoever is brave enough to stand up could reap some serious rewards.

Lest we forget…

BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb killed an American soldier in Baghdad on Saturday, capping the bloodiest week for U.S. troops in Iraq this year.

Clashes persisted in Shiite areas, even as the biggest Shiite militia sought to rein in its fighters.

The U.S. military said the American soldier was killed in a blast Saturday morning in northwestern Baghdad but did not say whether Shiite militiamen were responsible.

Here’s why…

The gun battles between soldiers and militiamen, who are all Shia Muslims, show that Iraq’s majority Shia community – which replaced Saddam Hussein’s Sunni regime – is splitting apart for the first time.

And I don’t use the word “key” lightly. Elections are the lifeblood of any democracy, and this piece of legislation was a big stumbling block to real progress.

The surge was designed to give Iraqi politicians the breathing room to create meaningful change in their country.

That was, is and always will be the end goal of this particular mission.

Well, we gave them their opportunity.

They’re giving us virtually nothing.