IRAQ'S SOVEREIGNTY VACUUM - A government with no military, no territory...

[bridgit]

'US President George W Bush marked the Iraqi election in December as the beginning of a new era. A freely selected permanent government would begin asserting its sovereignty over the country, building an administrative infrastructure and rising to the challenge of governing an unruly and often violent constituency.

Only three months later, this hopeful vision is in ruins. Various parliamentary leaders have occupied themselves with tortuous negotiations over who will be the next prime minister, while crises explode around their Green Zone sanctuary.' http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HC11Ak01.html