Decision ‘08

A Crucial Weekend in Iraq

One gets the feeling that the next few days will be decisive in determining how badly the prospects for a united Iraq have been damaged by the attack on the Shia shrine. I’ve been posting links to Iraq the Model when available; here’s another Iraqi blog that indicates how widespread the violence has been and how tense the situation remains.

At the Belmont Club, Wretchard begins with a horrible laundry list that is guaranteed to put a grimace on your face - but notes that the worst seems to be past and the timeline appears more hopeful now.

Today will be especially crucial, as it is Friday prayers, and we know how inflammatory many of the clerics can be…

In other Persian Gulf news, the UAE-controlled firm at the heart of the ports controversy has voluntarily agreed to a delay in the planned takeover of the operations to allow more time for discussion - a quite generous gesture, if you ask me, considering the slap in the face our politicians have been delivering…