Informed Speculation

…that a Pulitzer category be established for blogging – no, not for talking head yo-yos like me, but for people who are delivering real news and analysis that can’t be found elsewhere through the medium of blogs. People like Omar and Mohammed of Iraq the Model…

Mohammed’s latest is a welcome continuation of what appears to be a crisis that has passed through its worst phase:

It’s become clear from the active shuttle-like movement of the rival parties and mediators that the intensity of the political crisis began to subside compared to how things looked like a week ago.

In spite of the violence that disturbed Baghdad this morning, the rival parties resumed their meetings and talks with some politicians playing the role of mediators; the most prominent of whom is President Talabani and even in the two main competing camps we’re hearing moderate voices emerge to propose solutions like the Virtue Party from the UIA and al-Mutlaq from Maram.

In general, it looks like most parties want to assume peaceful ways in pursuing what they want but not everyone; the five carbombs that exploded in Baghdad today suggest that there’s someone out there who intends to escalate the crisis.

Let’s hope the negotiations continue, and for those of you who are interesting in reports from Iraq that are coming unfiltered from people who are right in the thick of things, I suggest you check Iraq the Model daily…I know I do…