Iraq's New Government Completes Cabinet, Raises Sunni Representation, Amid Deadly Insurgent Attacks

Strategic Insights -

Despite weeks of wrangling, Iraq's new Shiite majority government has finally completed its cabinet, with the nomination of six new ministers, including Sunni Arabs, for parliamentary approval on Sunday. The development comes at a critical time, as the country continues to grapple with a surge in insurgent attacks, which have killed hundreds of people, including soldiers, police, and civilians, over the past month.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new government will have six Sunni Arabs in its cabinet, up from three previously, in an attempt to address the concerns of the Sunni minority.
  • The cabinet will include a minister of industry, a minister of human rights, and a minister of electricity, all of whom will be Sunnis.
  • The new ministers will complete the 35-member cabinet of Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, who has been criticized for indecision and weakness in the wake of the formation of the new government.
  • The government has promised to be fully representative of Iraq's main ethnic and religious groups, including the restive Sunni minority.
  • A bomb attack in Baghdad on Saturday killed at least 22 people, including 2 Americans, and wounded dozens, highlighting the ongoing security challenges faced by the country.
  • The attack brought the death toll from insurgent violence to about 300 since the Jaafari government won a parliamentary vote of approval nine days ago.
  • The American command has announced the death of a marine from wounds suffered in a bomb attack in the town of Karma, near Falluja in Anbar Province.
  • The American-led allied forces have captured a key associate of militant leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was responsible for arranging Mr. Zarqawi's movements in the area and for the infiltration of foreign-born insurgents from Syria.

Statistics:

  • At least 300 people have been killed in insurgent-related violence since the Jaafari government won a parliamentary vote of approval nine days ago.
  • The death toll includes about 200 soldiers, police commandos, and recruits for the new American-trained Iraqi security forces.
  • The number of wounded in the recent attacks has been substantial, with dozens injured in the bombing in Baghdad on Saturday.
  • The American command has announced the death of a marine from wounds suffered in a bomb attack in the town of Karma, near Falluja in Anbar Province.
  • The American-led allied forces have captured a key associate of militant leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was responsible for arranging Mr. Zarqawi's movements in the area and for the infiltration of foreign-born insurgents from Syria.

Sources:

  • "Iraq's New Government Completes Cabinet," The New York Times, Saturday, March 6, 2005.
  • "Bomb Kills 22 in Baghdad," The New York Times, Saturday, March 6, 2005.
  • "Marine Dies in Bombing in Iraq," The New York Times, Saturday, March 6, 2005.
  • "US Forces Capture Key Associate of al-Zarqawi," The New York Times, Saturday, March 6, 2005.