I'm not sure that US pressure to put a Western face of perfunctoriness on the affair was in play here. Our culture would like to see a dispassionate performance of a state responsibility. This is Iraq. I believe they are trying to be a Western-styled democray. They need to find their own way: one which will fit in with the civilized world. Mistakes will be made. I don't like to see anyone's well intentioned enterprize fail so I'm all for Iraq getting it right and getting a new start that will serve their people and the region. Constructive criticism and encouragement are needed and not a desire to see them fail.