Bush’s Iraqi democracy

AT least 17 bullet-riddled bodies of men killed in apparent sectarian bloodshed surfaced across Baghdad today as Iraq was thrown into political turmoil after leaders cancelled a much-awaited parliament session.

So despite Bush’s dream of instituting some kind of democracy in the country, there is still no workable government four months after landmark elections for the first full-term post-Saddam Hussein Parliament. Just the spectre of Iraqi leaders squabbling over key posts.

Sunni and Kurdish groups have rejected the choice for Prime Minister of the powerful Shiite majority, outgoing Premier Ibrahim Jaafari, while the Shiites are opposing Sunni candidates for other posts.

I guess they missed George W’s real message when he called for a US style democracy. George might have expected some effective ballot rigging, after his own style. He still would have been disappointed at the reluctance of the Iraqis to accept a result.