The next 10 days in Iraq will be crucial

I don't want to get into a long rant about Iraq like I always do.  But it is important to note that on this web site I will be following Iraq very closely over the next ten days.  A lot will be determined within that time span, and could mark the beginning of the end for the Maliki government.

President Bush is scheduled to meet with Nouri al-Maliki next week in an attempt to convince the Iraqi Prime Minister to crack down on militias, such as the one run by Muqtada al-Sadr.  Al-Sadr, the Shiite militia leader, is threatening Maliki not to meet with Bush or else be opposed by many Shiites.  Remember, Maliki is also a Shiite.  So aside from fighting the Sunni death squads, if Maliki can't even get support from his own religious sect, that might automatically deem his rule as illegitimate.

The Maliki Administration is on life support.  On Saturday, a number of influential Sunni leaders called for the toppling of the Iraqi government:

"I call on the Arab states, the Arab League and the United Nations to stop this government and withdraw its support from it," said Sheik Harith al-Dhari, who heads the Association of Muslim Scholars. "Otherwise, the disaster will occur and the turmoil will happen in Iraq and other countries.''

Back to al-Sadr and the Shiites for a minute.  Obviously, Maliki needs al-Sadr to help fight the Sunni militias.  But from a governmental standpoint, without the support of Sadr loyalists in parliament, Maliki could be deposed.

That is how serious Maliki's nightmare really is, and the Bush Administration is depending on his government to survive these next two weeks.