New coup rumors in Iraq

Posted By Blake Hounshell Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 6:53 PM Share

If political intrigue were a commodity like oil or wheat, Iraq would be the world's leading producer. Mideastwire.com reports on the latest behind-the-scenes maneuvering in Baghdad:

Al-Hayat, an independent Saudi owned newspaper, wrote on January 16: “Knowledgeable sources in the Iraqi Al-Da’wah party announced that some of the leaders of the party declared that they will recant their “white revolution” which took place last May against the old leaders of the party and its head Ibrahime Al-Ja’afari, the ex Iraqi Prime Minister. The sources added that those leaders are thinking of re-evaluating the results of the latest party elections which led to the dismissal of Al-Ja’afari and the appointment of the current Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki as head of party along with new names that don’t have any history of struggle to back them up. The bases of the party and its supporters believe that Al-Ja’afari’s return would constitute a corrective coup that would set the party back on its track.

Make no mistake: Despite its ongoing frustration with Maliki, the United States is not likely to look too kindly on efforts to oust him. There would only be further delays and stagnation as Iraq's factions negotiated new political arrangements. And let's not forget: Jaafari was probably even less capable than his successor.

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