Are Shia Paying Lip Service to National Unity Government?
While al-Hakim contends that the UIA supports the idea of a national unity government, his viewpoint suggests a hardening of the Shi’ite position that, as the largest parliamentary bloc representing the majority of the population, it has the right to steer the direction of the new, democratic Iraq. Such a position does little to build confidence within the Sunni Arab community, which has at best been skeptical of the political process in Iraq. However, it is doubtful that al-Hakim’s posturing, which replicates the prereferendum positions of many secular and religious Shi’a, would have any real impact on Sunni Arab participation in the government. It is certain, however, that the Shi’ite position would prolong efforts to build real national unity. It would also exacerbate the existing fractures within the Sunni Arab community. For example, the Iraqi Accordance Front, which comprises three major Sunni Arab parties and emerged as the strongest Sunni bloc in the elections, may be willing t
