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Iraq: Shiites Paralyzed by infighting as ISIL menaces Baghdad

Juan Cole 09/28/2014

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By Juan Cole

The pan-Arab London daily “al-Sharq al-Awsat” [The Middle East] is reporting from a source inside the new Iraqi government that former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, now one of three largely symbolic vice presidents, is attempting to undermine his successor, Haydar al-Abadi.

Al-Abadi has abolished the office or rank of “general commander of the armed forces” This position was created by al-Maliki and is his baby. [Al-Maliki is said to have arranged for the uniformed military to report directly to the PM]. Al-Abadi also opposes the appointment of Badr Corps militia leader Hadi al-Amiri as minister of the Interior (i.e. head of internal security and intelligence.

An internet support group for al-Maliki is running a smear campaign against al-Abadi, accusing him online of “treason.”

Meanwhile, speculation is increasing that Rafi` al-`Isawi, a Sunni from al-Anbar province and a former cabinet member, may be appointed minister of defense. (I called for a Sunni minister of defense a few weeks ago). Having a Sunni as minister of defense will help to make it look less like a Shiite-ISIL clash or like a Christian-Shiite operation against Sunnis.

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Related video:

The White House: ” The President Meets with Prime Minister Al-Abadi of Iraq”

Filed Under: Featured, Iraq, Syria

About the Author

Juan Cole is the founder and chief editor of Informed Comment. He is Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History at the University of Michigan He is author of, among many other books, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires and The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Follow him on Twitter at @jricole or the Informed Comment Facebook Page

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