Playing With Fire in Iraq

Considering the recent Arab revolutions and uprisings, the US government is playing with fire in Iraq; any attempts to delay or cancel the United States' complete departure will most likely spark a nationwide revolt against the very unpopular US military presence there. Iraqis had already been demonstrating in the streets of Baghdad and other major Iraqi cities for weeks as of this writing. So far most of the protests have focused on demands for better services, but if the US government breaks its promises and tries to extend the military occupation beyond the agreed-upon deadline, demonstrators are likely to redirect their energies to their outrage at the US and Iraqi governments.

The rumor is that this time the US is trying to extend its military presence without approval by Iraq's legislators. If this is the case, it will most likely be the end of the Iraqi political system; it would be the last straw that would destroy the Iraqi government's legitimacy and end the credibility of the country's political and electoral systems. It would push many Iraqis who have joined the government to boycott the political process and resort again to violence.