A STEP FORWARD

by RAY FLEMING
THERE are plenty of tough jobs in the world but few are likely to be more difficult to handle than the one facing Jawad al-Maliki who has just become Iraq's prime minister-designate, succeeding Ibrahim al-Jaafari who has stepped down under intense pressure from other Iraqi politicians and the United States. Mr alJaafari found it impossible to put together a government of national unity; this is the task facing his successor and it is probably not an exaggeration to say that Iraq's future as a nation rests on his ability to bring an end to the escalating sectarian violence and to bring together political leaders who are deeply suspicious of each others' intentions. Although Mr al-Maliki, a Shia, is not well-known he has a reputation as a straight-talking pragmatist and a skilled negotiator. The support he has gathered is based on a 33-point policy programme that will form the basis of the national unity government he now hopes to form. The appointment of ministers to key departments, especially that of the interior ministry which must establish an independent security force, will be critical to the success of his administration. At the same time, however, he would not have gained general support if he had not made promises to implement priortity policies of all the main parties and of the occupying powers. One of Mr al-Maliki 33 points is to “end the duty of the mutinational forces and return them to their countries.” He has much to do before before he can deliver that objective.