NY Times: Al-Maliki's Resignation Only Solution to Iraq's Problems

The New York Times feels that the solution to Iraq’s problems lies in al-Maliki’s resignation of responsibility. The paper said in its analysis of Iraq's situation that the country is going through a dangerous crisis; the solution lies within the resignation of the prime minister and parliament installing someone in his place. There are other Shi'ite politicians qualified to lead the government of a national union. The paper added that if al-Maliki is persuaded to resign, it would grant the Sunni political moderates a symbolic victory and would help curb extremist infiltration within their society. In turn, this would demonstrate to all Iraqis that change is possible through politics and not war.

At the same time, parliamentary dissolution could be avoided. The paper noted that — a decade after the fall of Saddam Hussein — violence still threatens to crush Iraq. As a new political deal, regional cooperation with the U.S. will not be easy with al-Maliki out of the picture, but it is necessary to save Iraq.