Anthony Cordesman Quotes on Government (5 Quotes)

This is the first step to allow Iraq to have a unity government, but it's only a first step. The question is, will the new prime minister be capable of leading the country

Whatever happens, both the campaign and the new government that will take over have to address the issue of federalism, have to address money, have to address national versus provincial versus local power which is different from provincialism and federalism. They have to address the role of religion in politics, the constitution forces the new government to do that. So what we're talking about is a period, which to put it mildly, is already troubled which will last through mid-December when the election occurs and then almost certainly is going to last another three months while a government takes over. And this is the reality whether people would like to spin this into a symbol of democracy or not.

Much insurgent activity consists of bombings of soft civilian targets designed largely to provoke a more intense civil war or halt the development of an effective Iraqi government, rather than progress towards control at even the local level.

People with antiwar views will see this as confirmation of all their conspiracy theories about the war. And that's at least partly because the government didn't get its facts straight.

The Yemeni central government has done what it can, but it is very weak. It is not a matter of the government not trying. But there are limits to it can do.