October 1, 2010

Finally a Winner in Iraq

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We might finally have a winner from the March election in Iraq:

Powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has agreed to support the bid by Iraq’s prime minister to retain power, aides said Friday, in a move that could speed an end to the seven-month political impasse and bring dealmaking that may give key concessions to al-Sadr’s anti-American bloc.

The decision by al-Sadr would mark a significant boost for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s Shiite-led coalition to secure enough parliament seats to form a new government.

….Al-Sadr’s move apparently sets aside past animosity with al-Maliki for a chance to gain a greater voice in a possible new government. Al-Sadr — who has been in self-exile in Iran since 2007 — has denounced al-Maliki’s government for its close ties to Washington and a joint security pact that allows U.S. military presence through at least the end of next year.

So we get the same old Maliki government, but with a greater role for Muqtada al-Sadr. I can’t say this fills me with hope for Iraq’s future, but I suppose it fills me with relief that they’re at least going to have a government of some kind. Stay tuned. 

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We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

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