al-Maliki met recently with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who is the Supreme Leader of Iran. Pretty clear from the footage that al-Maliki is working closely with the Ayatollah to maintain a strong relationship with Iran. From a political standpoint it makes perfectly good sense since they're neighbors, not to mention al-Maliki has been pushing a Shiite agenda and overruling his parliamentary ministers.
Seems to me he's on course with Iran in attempting to eventually form a government similar to Iran's, in that it has a parliament, but is chiefly ruled by the religious leaders (Ayatollahs & Mullas). I've felt this was inevitable since the beginning of the war ... Islam is the core of their society.
And now the Bush/Cheney administration is pushing what is apparently unreasonable demands that would give the US full autonomy. Not sure why since we're not told much, but I'd imagine the thrust would be to allow the US an extended military presence in the region, similar to our forces in South Korea, so that we could attack Iran/Syria at any given moment?
The longer this draws out without resolution, the more it's going to effect our presidential election process. Bad, very bad, in that it's giving another country a controlling influence in our political process. I can't imagine the Whitehouse pressing this at this time, unless they think it will benefit their preferred presidential candidate, can you Seeka?
On the other hand, it may backfire and play right into the hands of Obama's intended policy of negotiating a withdrawal.
At any rate, this is all over my head, but I'm going to watch it, intently, because it could be the precursor to a wider war. pfftt! Especially if Ehud Olmert, the Israeli PM, launches a unilateral attack on Iran's nuclear reactors ....
