This blog post was published on December 20 2011. §
Iraq: arrest warrant for vice-president Al-Hashimi a golden chance for the Kurds
The CIA chief David Petraeus to attend Al-Iraqiya meeting yesterday makes you wonder about the US role in the current unrest in Iraq or even in the bombing and assassinations.
The crisis started with the arrest of the bodyguards of Vice-President Al-Hashimi [video of their televised interview admitting their role in the assassination and bombings campaigns — 1 — 2] .. He said that Hashimi threatened to harm his family in case he refused to do the “job”.
The rivalry between the two men is not new, but the new is the arrest warrant issued against Hashimi, travel ban against Mutlaq, and confessions on of murder and terrorism.
Contrary to the common believe that Maliki’s move will endanger the relation between the Sunnis and Shiites. Other Sunni faction such as Al-Iraqiya split group “the White Al-Iraqiya” offered themselves as a legitimate heir to the “mother List” to fill the vacuum of Al-Iraqiya’s ministers in the Maliki’s government
AkHashemi, a prominent Sunni leaders and former leader of the Islamic Party, in less than 24 hours is a fugitive. Five judges issued an arrest warrant against him after the confessions of supporting terrorism.
Kurdish leader Barzani always intervene at the right time called for an urgent national conference before the collapse of the political process. The last phrase has its significance to Maliki and the National Alliance.
The Parliament is disabled, the government has become semi-paralyzed. If Maliki does not respond to Barzani’s invitation, the Kurds will withdraw from the political process which will lead to the fall of Maliki government which means a new election. This option is a golden opportunity for the Kurdish region to declare its independence under the global situation which allows everything. unless Al-Hashimi accepts the offer to go to exile .. to be followed