Al-Maliki support eroding in Iraq

Good morning.

A broad range of prominent Iraqi lawmakers say they have lost confidence in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's ability to reconcile the country's warring factions. A leading Kurdish lawmaker said al-Maliki should resign.

Legislators from several parties told USA TODAY that al-Maliki lacks the support in parliament to push through laws, such as a plan to distribute oil revenues, that could reduce tensions between Sunnis and Shiites. Iraq's parliament has failed to pass major legislation since a U.S.-led security plan began on Feb. 14.

I think the most troubling aspect is that Maliki's support is collapsing on all fronts within all blocs. Even the Shiites within his coalition are now talking about his imminent fall.

"The present government is not competent," said Dawood, a Shiite legislator (and member of al-Maliki's coalition.) "It's more or less paralyzed, inactive. I doubt very much that this government can continue in power much longer....."

"(Al-Maliki) must do something to make this government stronger," said Bahaa al-Araji, a lawmaker loyal to al-Sadr. "If not, this government will expire within a few weeks."

But the question is, what can he do? The US has pinned all their hopes to Maliki, and now his government is floundering.

(Also: This BBC analysis piece on the Baghdad security plan.)