Informed Speculation

Sure, the violence continues – you can’t expect it to suddenly cease – but the fact remains that Iraq is finally getting where it should have been 3 years ago. This latest step is huge:

Iraq’s parliament approved a national unity government Saturday, achieving a goal Washington hopes will reduce violence so U.S. forces can eventually go home.

…In a show of hands, the 275-member parliament approved each of the 39 Cabinet ministers proposed by incoming Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The new Shiite Muslim, Sunni Arab and Kurdish ministers then took their oaths of office during the nationally televised session in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone.

The installation, coming after months of political wrangling following Dec. 15 parliamentary elections, completed a democratic process that began after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

In his first address, al-Maliki told parliament he would make restoring stability and security the top priority of his new administration. He said he would ”work fast” to improve and coordinate Iraqi security forces so they can reduce attacks by insurgent groups and militias.

Al-Maliki also said he would set ”an objective timetable to transfer the full security mission to Iraqi forces, ending the mission of the multinational forces.”

Let’s hope pray that al-Maliki has the political strength and courage to take on the militias…