America’s newspapers of record in turn published what now seem to be perfunctory articles
about the maybe new Iraqi prime minister that read a lot like so many
previous articles about all the other Iraqi prime minister-designates
dating back to the invasion of Iraq. Like his predecessors, Kadhimi
apparently can balance between the United States and Iran and is a
person of integrity who can elicit political support from different
factions. But such testimonials, in typical fashion, are followed by
caveats about the significant shortcomings of Iraq’s political system
that will likely make it difficult for the prime minister-designate to
form a government and subsequently govern. The articles generally close
with a fingers-crossed quality. It is a formula that journalists in the
field and their editors at home seem to have perfected.
The person nominated is always the big story, but the far more
consequential issue that these articles and commentaries often merely
allude to is Iraq’s political institutions. Even the most casual
observers of Iraq know that the country’s problems are significant,
complex, and seemingly unresolvable. No one knows how to fix them,
despite years of trying, so everyone in Washington who ever cared about
Iraq seems now to be advocating for the United States to head for the
exits.
-- Steven A. Cook, "Nobody Can Help Iraq Anymore" (FOREIGN POLICY).