Iraq IV: Once More to the Woodshed

Yitzhak Nakash, a professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at Brandeis University, presents a cogent argument that the U.S. has to to bring warring Iraqi factions back to the negotiating table one more time. The alternative, he argues in an L.A. Times op-ed piece, is all-out civil war. An excerpt:

"At the end of the day, the United States cannot forge a political pact among Iraqis. That responsibility lies mainly with Iraq's Shiite leaders, including the senior clerics led by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, who in recent months has withdrawn from politics so as not to overshadow the lay politicians in the government.

"To jump-start the political process, the Shiites should offer to expand the governing coalition to include more Sunnis and to reduce the influence of Sadr's supporters within the government. Such a move does not need to come at the expense of Shiite unity.

"In addition, Shiites and Sunnis, as well as Kurds, must get back to work writing the Iraqi constitution, agree on a fair distribution of oil revenues and disband the militias or incorporate them into the Iraqi army.

"The Bush administration has reached a critical juncture in its mission in Iraq. Whether it begins withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq or opts for a temporary troop surge, the administration owes Iraqis a final chance to work things out. The stakes in Iraq are too high for the U.S. to simply cut and run."

More here.