Nuri Al-Maliki

This is Nuri Al-Maliki he is the current prime minister of Iraq the one on the left. For the most part, a deceit guy. His party is called the Islamic Dawa Party. Which earlier in the month had some candidates killed in Basrah. Read about it here
Nuri is not running for reelection he is trying to keep his job by getting some of his party members elected. Iraq has a Parliamentary system and Nuri can be voted out by a vote of no confidence. His party is secular, which means it believes in the separation of church and state. If the guy beside him Muqtada Sadr can get enough seats in Parliament Nuri days are numbered.

The election violence has been getting worse each day. Three Sunni canidates were killed this week. Read about it here

The Sunnis will at least try to get elected this time around in 2005 they boycotted the elections. There will be bad blood if they do not get elected. (and then some) Some have speculated about an alliance between Kurds, Sunni and Dawa Party. To take on the Shiites majority. The election last time in 2005 started wars between all the ethnic groups. The elections process always seem to redress the conflicts here in Iraq. I think the fears are the same as they were in 2005. The election result will tell the tale of when it will be possible for the US to withdraw. I have not seen any changes here at Victory and I think everyone is waiting for the outcome of this election. I am out Y'all.

Barack Obama 16 months or SOFA

Well change has come to Washington. President Barack Obama is still saying 16 months and we will be out of Iraq. The SOFA agreement says 2011. Which will win out, we will have to wait and see. The soldiers are hoping they don't have to come back to Iraq again. Most have been here for two tours and extra long ones at that. I think that's why they were glued to the TV during the inauguration speech.
The contractors all talk about how nothing is changing. It seems we should be planning for when the troops leave the cities in less than 6 months.. No word on that subject. Maybe they are waiting until after the January 31st Iraqi elections. One of my coworkers who has spent some time here and Afghanistan, said we came in a hurry and will be leaving in a hurry too. It should be interesting to see what happens next.
I am out.