BAGHDAD: Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari stood firm Wednesday that he is the Shia nominee for a new term, saying that to step down is "out of the question." Al-Jaafari's comments, made in a nationally televised press conference, mean the deadlock over the premiership is likely to continue. Sunni and Kurdish objections to al-Jaafari have stalled efforts to form a unity government four months after national elections. "As a matter of principle, I think the idea of making a concession is, for me at least, out of the question," al-Jaafari said. The prime minister said he still enjoys the support of the Shia alliance, the dominant bloc in parliament, despite a few public calls from within for him to step aside.
| I'm starting to lose patience with Jaafari, and I suspect the people who count in Washington are, too. It's become pretty obvious the deadlock is intentional, keeping Iraq without a functioning government while all the gunnies in the world fire indiscriminately in every direction. I'm wondering if the drivers for the deadlock are in Terrorhan. There are times I think it's a pity we're not given to car booms like everybody else in the Middle East. The problem of Jaafari (and of Moqtada and a half dozen other bad actors) could be solved so quickly — to be replaced in a short time by similar, but different, problems, of course. |