A Shiite Government

Even though the secular party of Allawi narrowly won the most votes, the Shiite parties have now done a deal to form a government without him. The Kurds seem eager to go along. And so, the Sunnis seem marginalized again:

The willingness of Sunnis to accept a limited role in a Shiite-dominated government could determine Iraq’s political stability in the coming years.

“No doubt this could lead to a resurgence in violence and provide a fodder for extremism,” said Sheik Abdul-Rahman Munshid al-Assi, who leads a Sunni political council in the disputed region of Kirkuk. “There must be participation in the government by any means. Otherwise we will return to square one.”