December 9th, 2009 by Jason

In the wake of a series of large bombs that killed 127 people, wounded 500 more, and damaging government buildings, Iraq’s presidency council announced that parliamentary elections will now be held on March 7th. Officials said the decision was made independent of political considerations. Juan Cole reports the bombs targeted both the ministries of interior and finance and parliament will investigate “this serious lapse in security.”

Ranj Alaaldin argues the violence reflects Iraq’s “political problems and also the geopolitical realities,” especially as its neighbors show “no enthusiasm for a stable and democratic Iraq.” Ultimately, Iraq will not be stable until “Iraqi politics truly starts to cross ethnic and sectarian boundaries.” Andrew Sullivan is concerned that the neoconservatives will push to extend the American presence in Iraq given its recent setbacks.

Posted in Elections, Iraq, Neocons, Sectarianism, Terrorism, US foreign policy, al-Qaeda |