Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Nouri Al Maliki is making too many commitments. Some of them are actually very ambitious and may lead, if he fails to deliver, to serious setbacks.
On Saturday, Al Maliki said he will have a functioning government by mid-December. It is a long shot. Since securing an agreement on naming a prime minister took at least seven months, it is doubtful that forming a Cabinet will take only a couple of weeks. The failure of Al Maliki to submit his team line-up within his own deadline would again create a power vacuum which armed groups know how to manipulate.
Secondly, Al Maliki says Iraq doesn't need any part of the US-led force to stay beyond the 2011 withdrawal deadline. He says the Iraqi security and armed forces are fully capable of keeping the peace and restoring stability. However, the recent bombings and hostage-takings underline the fragility of the security situation and the need to further train and equip the national forces.
Certainly nobody wants to see US soldiers in Iraq after the withdrawal date but that needs a comprehensive review of the capability of the Iraqi army and security forces to ensure Iraq will not degenerate into civil strife again.
