Surge Fail Update II

Joel Wing covers the political stalemate:

As always, Maliki is the main barrier to forming a new government. He
insists that he return as prime minister, which is opposed by almost
all the other parties. The negotiations with the Iraqi National
Alliance and the Iraqi National Movement have gone nowhere because of
him, while the Kurds are largely staying on the sidelines willing to
support any coalition that emerges that will agree to their demands.
Maliki has the luxury of being able to drag...