A New Government In Iraq Would Signal Another Sign of Hope

The pro-Shi'ite Iraqi government currently led by al-Maliki may be on its way out, to be replaced by a new coalition government controlled by Kurd and Sunnis, joined by moderate Shi'ites.

It appears that the Sunni/Shi'ite sectarian killings have taken their toll on the patience of those who still hope to create a stable, unified Iraq. Those perpetuating the violence (including foreign al-Qaeda terrorists, pro-Baathist Sunnii insurgents and the radical, pro-Iranian Shi'ites under the titular authority of al-Sadr) have increasingly marginalized themselves from popular support.

The national concensus appears to be concluding that the political center needs to pull together and begin to excise these pathological malignancies from the country.

Maliki has proven incapable and unwilling to crack down on the radical Shi'ite community. Now, with the apparent approval of the more moderate Shi'ite Ayatollah al-Sistani, the shift to the center is now about to take place.

Personally, I believe that this new development (commented on by Hugh Hewitt) along with other "shifts in the wind" (on which I have recently posted) have given President Bush a reason to "re-think" his next strategic moves in Iraq.

Regardless of what else he may do, the one thing our President MUST do is to affirm our national resolve to support the still-emerging Iraqi government and the Iraqi people during this period of new-birth.

It is not polite for the "mid-wife" to go home before the baby is born.