BAGHDAD - Iraq’s new government will be in place by April, interim Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari told a delegation of US senators on Tuesday, amid signs Washington is losing patience with the political stalemate in Baghdad.Jaafari told the senators “he felt this government could be formed by April and that included the actions by the parliament in confirming the new government,” visiting Senator John Warner told reporters following talks with the prime minister.
Talks between Iraq’s political factions on forming a government of national unity have been going on since general elections were held three months ago, but there has been little sign of progress despite warnings that stalemate might be fueling sectarian violence. “We need to combine our efforts in order not to exceed a fourth month in forming a government,” Jaafari conceded at a news conference Tuesday.
“The American people do expect this government to come about swiftly,” said Warner, a Republican who chairs the Senate’s Armed Services Committee. “There’s been too much dawdling whilst Baghdad is burning,” the ranking Democrat on the committe, Carl Levin, said for his part.
“Our continuing presence here is dependant on their reaching a prompt political settlement” on setting up a government of national unity, said Levin. “It’s not good enough to say we’re here as long as they need us ... The commitment now is too open-ended,” he added.
| That's a fair statement if it's meant to nudge the Iraqis. |
| They don't realize, of course, that they're carrying Dubya's water for him. |