Finally - Some Leverage in Iraq

After three years of military occupation in Iraq, we now find that the political situation has become almost as untenable as the security situation. Despite the "progress" of elections in December, the various factions have been unable to form a government.

Two days ago, the Shiite faction announced that it would refuse to participate in further negotiations with Sunni factions due to the US raid on a Shiite mosque.

How to get the political process back on track?

Ironically, with a threat of an immediate and complete military withdrawal! Over the past year, the security situation has deteriorated to the point that virtually all Iraqi politicians say that they want the US to stay! So, we now have a hammer to force some political action. We should provide a timetable for the formation of a government and plan for a complete troop withdrawal if the plan is not met.

The Iraqi politicians may well decide that the only thing worse than having an occupying army in their country is to have it leave.