Mohammed Fadhil of Iraq the Model has a useful post on Iraqi reactions to the American election. What is most useful about it is the open spirit with which Iraq's most famous bloggers approach the new Obama Administration. Mohammed and his brothers are grateful to President Bush for liberating their country and they liked Sen. McCain. Like most Iraqis, they are looking forward to the departure of the Americans, but they do not want to have that happen too soon. The relative peace that has raised hopes in recent months since the Surge succeeded is fragile and could collapse, precipitating an Iranian-influenced civil war.
So, we'll see. Certainly it is to America--not Bush, McCain or Obama per se--that Iraqis look for helpful leadership. It is America that will get the credit or the blame for coming events.
And, to borrow a malaprop from the new Obama Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, we can't just kick the future of Iraq down the can.
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