The Department of Defense Quarterly Report on Stability and Security in Iraq

December 22, 2006

Most important for long-term political stability is the success of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s National Reconciliation and Dialogue Project. This project initiated a series of meetings among political, religious, tribal, and sectarian leaders, and could, under the right circumstances, over the long run, serve as a basis for effective legislation for civil society and a national compact resolving the divisive issues in Iraq.

However, so far, this project has shown little progress. Sectarian violence has steadily increased despite meetings among religious and tribal leaders. The proposed meeting between political leaders has been repeatedly delayed. Concrete actions by the Government of Iraq to implement national reconciliation have not been successful.

Some Iraqis now express a lack of confidence in the government’s ability to equitably solve fundamental issues. The U.S. government should continue to press the Iraqi government to act on the Presidency Council’s October 2006 legislative and political agenda. This document included a timeline for key issues that directly impact Iraqi reconciliation efforts.