One of the ironies is that it seems there actually may be some positive developments in Iraq. The Shiite government is now saying it is willing to stop blacklisting all members of the Baathist party. If low-ranking Baathists can be hired, that may start to undercut support for the insurgency.

Though obviously the police problem and the oil revenue distribution still have to be addressed.

But--from the WSJ today:

The Shiite government "charged 57 policemen with torturing prisoners".

And "Al-Douri, Hussein aide turned insurgent, urged a ceasefire".


The question is whether this is too little, too late, to avoid full-blown civil war--according to the WSJ today: "Sunnis and Shiites traded mortar fire across the Tigris in Baghdad, killing 21." That sounds just like civil war.