The carnage in Iraq, which left dozens killed in the past two days, should not come as a surprise to anyone. The current political turmoil is bound to allow terrorists to exploit the vacuum.
Yesterday's suicide bombings, which targeted a number of embassies, were also most probably meant to isolate Iraq, which is trying hard to assume its role in regional and international folds. The targeting of diplomats reminds us of a similar terrorist campaign in the early years of US occupation. Iraq has since come a long way.
But as political factions quarrel over election results and officials talk of long months to come of negotiations to form the new government, terrorists seize the opportunity to de-legitimise the government and the entire political process by showing the state, its military and security forces as paralysed institutions, unable to defend citizens and ensure stability.
The tragic events must prompt the main political factions to speed up talks to form the government in order to take charge of the security situation and regain the trust of the people and foreign governments which had sent envoys to Baghdad as a means to help rebuild the war-ravaged country. Terrorists must not be allowed to sabotage the political process and render futile years of efforts that helped reduce the level of violence.
