War in Iraq

Seven years after the American invasion of Iraq, the U.S. occupation is winding down even as the country has been taking into a new round of political turmoil and other finical trouble in the wake of an indecisive parliamentary election or uncompromise in the presidental spot.The election, which was to be held in December 2009, did not take place until March 2010 because of trouble iraq commety and other termoil in iraq. The vote was so close that Iraqi political leaders are still deadlocked over forming a new government.The impasse has disgusted many ordinary Iraqis, whose frustration with the political deadlock has mirrored their deepening anger over a dysfunctional government and the shoddy delivery of the basic necessities of life. The deadlock also revived sectarian tensions and raised the specter of renewed violence.On Aug. 31, 2010, President Obama declared an end to the American combat mission in Iraq and the bombings through the towns and cities, even though Baghdad is stuck without the permanent government that his strategy originally was planned on.Iraq's two Shiite blocs together won 159 seats, only four seats short of a majority in the new Parliament. It is widely expected that the Kurds, who won 57 seats, will join them, though only after trying to extract concessions on greater sovereignty and territorial claims in the north. The question of who will lead the alliance - and thus serve as prime minister - remains a matter of dispute among the Shiite parties. American officials have pushed, without success, for a power-sharing agreement that would keep Mr. Maliki as prime minister and put Mr. Allawi in charge of security. The stalemate also cast a shadow over the drawdown that brought the American force in Iraq to about 50,000 troops by August 31, down from 144,000 when Mr. Obama took office. The remaining “advise and assist” brigades will officially focus on supporting and training Iraqi security forces, protecting American personnel and facilities, and mounting counterterrorism operations. The 50,000 transitional troops will leave by the end of 2011, according to an agreement negotiated by President George W. Bush and reaffirmed by Mr. Obama.

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