Uncertainty Following Death of Iraqi Shiite Leader
August 28th, 2009 by Max
The death in Tehran of Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, an influential force for Iraq’s Shi’ite majority, was notable for his ability to simultaneously maintain a relationship with both Tehran and Washington.
Still, al-Hakim’s departure from Iraq’s political stage has worried many. The AP’s Qassim Abdul-Zahra points out that although al-Hakim was highly distrusted by minority Sunnis, many worried that his death will create a political vacuum, opening the door for a hard-line successor. Still, recent fractures in the Shi’ite political leadership indicate that al-Hakim’s successor will have a difficult time forming an effective political coalition.
Posted in Iraq, US foreign policy |
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