According to Iraq Pundit a recent attempt on the life of Iraq's vice president, Adel Abdul Mahdi, may have been triggered by political maneuverings to replace Nouri al Maliki as Iraq's Prime Minister. Iraq Pundit sees Adel Abdul Mahdi as the likely replacement.
Abdul Mahdi is an interesting figure. Though he, like Hakim, is a member of the Iran-leaning SCIRI party, he is not typical of its membership. (He spent his years of Baathist exile in France.) He is a pragmatic man, a smart man, and, I have reason to believe, a capable man. He has been a frequent visitor to Washington for some time, though his meetings with officials have remained private. He nearly emerged as prime minister in the last round of parliamentary wrangles in Baghdad, and this renewed effort to make him PM is not yet a done deal, either.
In the meantime, Iraq's Sunni VP, Tariq Al Hashemi, arrived in Washington on Sunday for White House meetings, reportedly weeks ahead of a scheduled meeting.
Al Maliki was described in press reports as "livid at the attempt to unseat him." A source described as a close aide said, "We know what's going on and we will sabotage it." As for the Al Sadr thugs who support Al Maliki, they promised that they would "resist."
That promise was made on Sunday. It was on Thursday that gunmen attacked Abdul Mahdi's convoy.
The story comes by way of Mohammed at Iraq the Model who says yes there is a new political coalition forming, but it will result in a cabinet reshuffling rather than a vote of no confidence in Prime MInister al Maliki.
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