NPR: NIE: Iraqi Leaders 'Unable to Govern Effectively'

NIE: Iraqi Leaders 'Unable to Govern Effectively'

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki must be sensing a pattern in U.S. reaction to his government: Tuesday he was down, Wednesday he was up, so he's due for another down day, right?

Today, the negative reaction comes in the form of a National Intelligence Estimate. The Associated Press reports that the intelligence analysts who wrote the 10-page document (the consensus judgment of the CIA and 15 other U.S. intelligence agencies) doubt he "can overcome sectarian divisions and meet benchmarks intended to promote political unity." The document also says Iraq's security services, while performing better, are still not ready to operate without help from U.S. forces.

The silver lining for the Iraqi prime minister is that the report also says that any attempt to replace him right now could "paralyze the government."

Meanwhile, papers around the Middle East tend see the Bush-al-Maliki relationship in two ways: Either Bush is trying to set al-Maliki up to be a scapegoat for failed policies in Iraq, or al-Maliki is to blame for not being able to unite the factions in his country.

3:41 PM ET | 08-23-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Some day we will be able to analyze what commitments were made in the hot spring of 2004 (Abu Ghraib, Intense battles) to assure Bremmer's exit, sovereignty transfer, and quiet through the elections of 2004. The deal was made with Jaafri (DAWA) et al of the then Governing Council that set the foundation for the debacle of what Iraq has become.

Sent by Bill Keller | 4:13 PM ET | 08-23-2007

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Tom Regan

Blogger

About Us

This year's election cycle has been one of the most exciting in memory. At the NPR News Blog we'll do our best to bring you interesting, informative -- and controversial -- stories from our own reporters and bloggers, as well as the rest of the best of the Internet and blogosphere. And we hope you'll let us know what you think as well.

Want to learn more? Be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions and our discussion guidelines.