After three years, Iraq has initiated its first democratically elected government after the National Assembly swore in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's cabinet. The United States spent seven years trying to establish a permanent form of government, so historically this is amazing progress. Iraq has now established permanent democratic institutions for the first time:
Iraq's new government of national unity was sworn in before a special session of parliament on Saturday, three years after the fall of Saddam Hussein. The new ministers took the oath of office after parliament approved the Cabinet presented by incoming Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
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The session began more than two hours late because of last-minute haggling, finally opening with readings from the Quran.
The 37-member Cabinet is made up of members from all of Iraq's religious, sectarian and ethnic groups. It took months of negotiations to form after the Dec. 15 elections and is Iraq's first constitutional government since the U.S. invasion toppled Saddam.
"This is a historic day for Iraq and all its people," deputy parliament speaker Khalid al-Attiyah said in a nationally televised news conference before the session. "This government represents all Iraqis."
This doesn't necessarily mean all is well; it's very possible that everything could collapse. Critics will point to continuing violence as a signal of an imminent civil war, a position that cannot be dismissed. However, we have seen insurgents trying to provoke such a war and have been unsuccessful. The terrorists are losing and we are winning. Today's progress is evidence of that.
UPDATE: Pejman Yousefzadeh:
No one should pretend that the creation of a new government in Iraq means that the reconstruction efforts in Iraq are over. This is not the end, nor is it the beginning of the end, and who knows whether it is the end of the beginning. But it is progress–progress that was inconceivable a little over three years ago. On such steps is further progress achieved until the final tipping point is reached and stability in Iraq becomes the norm rather than the exception.
Celebrate in modest fashion if so you wish. But celebrate nonetheless. This is important and will be remembered as important in years to come.
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