Mithal al-Alusi has survived numerous assassination attempts. Two of his sons have not. Recently elected to Iraq’s National Assembly, he could become the country’s next minister of defense – even though he takes the less-than-popular view that Iraq should partner with Israel in the fight against terrorism.

Alusi said he would also work toward Iraqi independence, “from America, from Iran — though we could be equal allies with them and many other countries.”

But Alusi said he wasn’t counting on being a minister or anything but a struggling politician. He insisted that he was committed to a democratizing process that may take decades.

But then in the next smoke-filled breath, Alusi said he didn’t expect to live to see his vision completed.

“I will be killed,” he said. “I know that.”

A provocative L.A. Times story is here.