From Reuters:

BAGHDAD - The United States and Britain piled pressure on Iraq’s leaders on Monday to break their deadlock over a new government and prime minister as quickly as possible and to disband sectarian militias to avoid civil war.

…”The Iraqi people are rightly demanding that they have a government after they braved the threats of terrorists to go to the polls and vote,” Rice told a joint news conference…

…Rice and Straw said foreign governments could not tell Iraqis who their next prime minister should be, but that Iraq’s international supporters must see progress.


[The following was found on Iraq’s night-stand, this morning.]

Dear Iraq,

Wow, this kind of thing is never easy. And before you panic, please understand that this is not a “Dear J’ohn letter.” No no no. Not at all. No.

At least, not yet.

It’s like this, though. When I entered into this relationship, I had certain expectations. Nothing big or elaborate. I mean, it’s not like I had a plan when I started seeing you. Definitely not. And it’s not like I had any idea whatsoever how it was going to end. I’m not like that - well, I used to be, but I’ve changed.

But I can’t deny that I had certain expectations. Who doesn’t, when it comes to relationships? I thought we both really liked democracy. You still say you do, but it doesn’t feel like that anymore, and I have to trust my feelings.

From the start, all my friends and family told me that this was wrong, that it wouldn’t work out. But I didn’t listen to them. I loved you. We had so much in common. Like… we were both into… not being killed by terrorists. And also… oil. - But not just oil- No! Don’t think that, not even for a minute. I mean, your oil is great, it’s amazing, and you have a TON of it, so much more than other countries, and all in the right places… I mean, WOW! But I loved you for more than that. Yes I did. I did.

I loved you enough to help you out of that bad relationship you’d been in for so long. And I have no regrets about that. I mean, that guy was killing you, and having him arrested was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I believe that. Even if some of the charges weren’t totally and completely true, he deserved it for what he did to you. I truly believe that, even today.

But now it looks like you haven’t learned to function without him. And that’s a problem. Yes, I understand why this is - 20+ years is a long time to be locked in an abusive relationship, and learning how to run your own life is hard. I understand that. I’m just not sure I’m the right one to help you through that anymore…

But wait - I’m NOT breaking up with you! No. Not right away. I said I’d help you get back on your feet so we could be together, and I meant it. I just didn’t expect it to be so hard, and I want you to know how I’m feeling.

I guess what I’m saying is that it’s not you. It’s me. I had unrealistic expectations. It’s not like I thought you’d be throwing flowers at my feet for having your guy arrested, but… okay, maybe that IS what I expected. But the point is… you have problems. Very, very deep problems that I didn’t see back when I fell in love with you. Because now I’m thinking that what I really fell in love with was the idea of you, not you as you really are - all messy and conflicted and needy. I’m not sure I can handle that.

Does that make me a terrible person? Do you hate me for that? I hope not. And I still hope we can make this work. I really, really do. But I had to let you know how I’m feeling. Just in case I have to - no. NO! I won’t even think it. Not yet.

But I need to think of myself, just a little. You’re not the only one with problems. So… please. Try to work through this and get yourself together. For our sake. Because I can’t prop you up for ever. And there’s no sense blaming me for putting you in this situation. You wanted this. You know you did. We both did. We did. And now we have to make this work. Both of us.

I’ll see you around 7 tonight. You should go ahead and have dinner - I’ll just grab something on the road.

Love,

The United States of America