Also in the Post, Amir Taheri has a good piece explaining why the harrowing push-and-pull we’ve seen in Iraq recently is really just the practice of politics. Here is how Taheri describes the dynamic (the “Pasha” is Paul Bremer):

“This is how things proceed: The “pasha” puts his ideas in circulation. They are immediately attacked by everyone, most notably by the Shiites. Then all sides enter into negotiations that include a great deal of posturing. Eventually, a compromise emerges.

This is almost invariably rejected by Sistani, whose tactic has been to play the democratic card and to call for people power. Then follows another series of negotiations, which lead to new compromise. This is then endorsed by Sistani, often with a wink and a nod.

The tactic is to push the Coalition and the Governing Council to the edge, but not beyond.”