Iraq’s political future now looks far brighter

From The Times

The announcement yesterday of the new Iraqi President and the naming of a 26-man Cabinet to serve under the new interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, confounds the critics almost willing chaos at the end of the month. After days of difficult talks, brinkmanship and skilful behind-the-scenes lobbying, Iraqis of all factions, tribes and religious affiliation have united in the interests of a stable, independent and democratic country. Their readiness to compromise is of genuine significance. For the first time since the end of Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship, Iraqis can look forward realistically to a new political order. It is an achievement that should not be underrated in Iraq, the wider Muslim world or in America itself.

Ghazi al-Yawer, the civil engineer educated in the US and Saudi Arabia, was not the first choice of the US and UN for the largely ceremonial presidency. They wanted Adnan Pachachi, the 81-year-old former Foreign Minister who has served on the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) with courage and distinction. Difficult, and they were destined to be difficult, negotiations threatened to scuttle the agreement already reached on the government’s composition. But when Mr Pachachi declined to serve, Washington accepted a man who has recently been sharply critical of the handover plan. In so doing, it has boosted the credibility of the new government. Sheikh al-Yawer, Sunni head of one of Iraq’s most powerful tribes, is not and cannot be portrayed as a US stooge. Nor is he beholden to any faction.

Good luck to the people of Iraq.

Are you watching and listening, Syria and Iran?