For 2 U.S. Presidents, Iraqi Leader Proved a Source of Frustration
In The New York Times, Peter Baker reports on U.S. presidential relationships with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. “Mr. Maliki rose from obscurity in part with American help,” Baker writes, “but first Mr. Bush and then President Obama found him to be a mercurial and often unconstructive ally who caused as many headaches as he solved.” Now, as Maliki stubbornly opposes his nominated replacement—a fellow party member who is favored by the U.S.—Baker reports that it is up to U.S. officials to persuade him to back down.