Reply #25: bwahahahaha....

[mike_c]

The puppet gov't has illusions of autonymy. Look for a few key assassinations to be permitted.

Maliki is trying to pursue a rational path here, which is a bit surprising but also the shrewdest thing to do, IMO. Unless he wants to be forever like Karzei, unable to leave the immediate protection of Americans in his own country, he MUST seek both reconciliation and an end to the occupation. He's also going to have to demonstrate considerable independence from the U.S., because the default assumption is that he oversees a government of marionettes. Dick and Don are not going to like that.

Personally, I don't think he can succeed, much as I admire this attempt.