Combative leader wins Iraqi respect
By Evan Osnos Tribune foreign correspondent
Fifteen months after the fall of Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein gave way to looting and rebel violence, being tough is back in style.
The man Iraqis most openly praise today is interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, a stocky 59-year-old neurologist and former exile with a thin rasp of a voice, a fondness for black suits and a slight limp from the night in 1978 when a crew sent by Hussein tried to kill him with an ax in London.
In just three weeks as the head of government, Allawi has emerged as a singular reflection of Iraq's greatest hopes and hazards: a firm leader who vows to rid the nation of violence even if it means restricting freedoms and cracking down on enemies.
"What we need is strength and justice, someone who will bring security," said watch repairman Mohammed al-Obeidi, 39.
Allawi has drawn cautious praise from Iraqis, foreign officials and analysts for helping push homegrown police and security into a more visible role, maintaining support of crucial religious leaders and sparking a palpable sense that Iraq plods forward despite violence.
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