Another Small Step in Iraq

AP Reports:

By Sinan Salaheddin,

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Influential Sunni Muslim clerics who once condemned Iraqi security force members as traitors made a surprise turnaround Friday and encouraged citizens to join the nascent police and army.

If heeded, the announcement could strengthen the image of the officers and soldiers trying to take over the fight against the Sunni-led insurgency....

It seemed to be a recognition by the Sunni minority, which dominated under former dictator Saddam Hussein, that Iraq's interim government is slowly retaking control of the nation and paving the way for a U.S. withdrawal.

That, at least, is hopeful. This isn't.

Negotiations continued over who will lead the newly elected National Assembly, as Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani and Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Shiite-led United Iraqi Alliance, talked about speeding up the formation of Iraq's new government.

The two discussed the possibility of formally naming Talabani as Iraq's president Sunday during a parliamentary session, said al-Hakim's son and political adviser, Mohsen Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim.

"We're running out of time," he said. "The delay is not in our interest."

Indeed. This is the most important procedural hurdle facing the interim leadership at present. Little else can be done until it is settled.

Read the article here.