U.S. and Kuwaiti troops unite to close the gate between Kuwait and Iraq after the last military convoys passed through, Dec. 18, 2011, signaling the end of Operation New Dawn. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Jordan Johnson
In U.S. Exit From Iraq, Failed Efforts And Challenges -- New York Times
The request was an unusual one, and President Obama himself made the confidential phone call to Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi president.
Marshaling his best skills at persuasion, Mr. Obama asked Mr. Talabani, a consummate political survivor, to give up his post. It was Nov. 4, 2010, and the plan was for Ayad Allawi to take Mr. Talabani’s place.
With Mr. Allawi, a secular Shiite and the leader of a bloc with broad Sunni support, the Obama administration calculated, Iraq would have a more inclusive government and would check the worrisome drift toward authoritarianism under Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.
But Mr. Obama did not make the sale.
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My Comment: Iraq is evolving into a strategic failure for the U.S. .... especially with Iran now positioning themselves to step into the vacuum. Am I surprised by this development .... no. The American public (myself included) are tired of this never-ending conflict .... and if Iran wants to get into the Iraqi quagmire .... I will now make the prediction that they will be disappointed.