The Price of U.S. Impatience

Maliki won the power struggle in Iraq and demonstrates what the West will be in for if it pulls troops out of Afghanistan prematurely.

Allawi and his coalition of Sunnis, Shiites and seculars may have barely won the Iraqi elections eight months ago, but they lost the battle for votes against current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Because he was unable to form his own majority government, Allawi was forced to form a coalition government under al-Maliki’s leadership.

It’s a testament to the lack of responsibility felt by Iraqi political elites that it took so long to form a government, a time during which extremists were able to again spread terror throughout the country due to the power vacuum.

Iran supports the radical Shiites

Many Iraqis have a justifiable feeling that some of their politicians are more interested in promoting their own well being than that of the citizens. Equally disturbing is Tehran’s long reach into the election, something that was made apparent both before and even more clearly after the voting took place.

Radical Shiites among Maliki’s allies, such as the hardliner Muqtada al-Sadr, are being supported by Iran. The outcome of the power struggle also further highlighted the diminishing influence of America, which had hoped for a stronger Sunni influence in government. America’s power and cohesion force in Iraq have been noticeably weakened.

The United States has left the impression that it wants to get out of Iraq as soon as possible, if not sooner. The Iraqi policy currents are therefore clearly redirecting themselves more toward an Iran that is trying to buy Iraqi loyalty with suitcases full of cash. This is the price of impatience that the West will likely soon have to pay in Afghanistan as well.