Iraq's Interior Minister and Media Disinformation

Yesterday two news stories broke from Iraq: the first, that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of the notorious but over hyped al Qaeda in Iraq, fomerly known as Tawhid and Jihad before it rebranded for greater notoriety; and the second, that the key cabinet positions of Interior Minister and Defence Minister were filled. The latter story understandably has attracted less media coverage than the death of al-Zarqawi, although it is far more significant to events on the ground in Iraq.

The Washington Post correlated the election of Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani and Defence Minister General Abdel Qader Jassim with the death of al Zarqawi and described both events as buttressing Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's position:

"The vote took place shortly after Maliki -- who has promised to heal sectarian wounds and crush a Sunni Arab insurgency -- announced that Al Qaeda's leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, had been killed in an air raid north of Baghdad. Both developments marked a major boost for the tough-talking Shi'ite Islamist, who the United States hopes can quell guerrilla and communal violence plaguing Iraq three years after U.S.-led forces invaded to overthrow Saddam Hussein."

Although, this was clearly disinformation, contrary to the Washington Posts' assertion, "[t]he Iraqi parliament approved on Thursday Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's candidates for Interior and defense ministers", Malikis candidate for the post of Interior Minister was Farouk al-Araji; it was the SCIRI sponsored candidate, al-Bolani, who secured the post.

Reuters reported early yesterday morning:

"Sunnis and Kurds have told Maliki they would back his candidate Araji for interior minister but three rival parties in his Alliance want Bolani, a former army colonel under Saddam Hussein."

The significance of this is that al-Araji was the candidate that the Shia Alliance who was blocked last Sunday, when Maiki forwarded him for the position of Interior Minister, along with General Abdel Qader Jassim, for the positions of Defence Minister. The appointment of al-Bolani therfore undermines Malaki's credibility. An Iraqi Government source quoted by Reuters said before the appointments, "He is in a corner .... Either he gives in to his Alliance rivals or there is no other way out but resigning"; it would appear he has made his decision.