The most important question for Iraq is: Does the presence of foreign military forces prevent its descent into civil war, or do they permit the Baghdad government to avoid taking responsibility for the nation's future? The decision by the Iraqi Parliament to take a summer recess despite failing to take action on vital pieces of legislation implies that the government is less than serious about governing.
When U.S. President George W. Bush earlier this year made public his plans to increase the number of U.S. troops in Iraq — the much criticized "surge" — he warned that continuing U.S. support for Iraq would depend on the Baghdad government's taking action on several issues: "America's commitment is not open-ended. If the Iraqi government does not follow through on its promises, it will lose the support of the American people — and it will lose the support of the Iraqi people."
Two core concerns are the sharing of oil revenues and the easing of restrictions that prevent former Ba'ath party officials from joining the civil service. Both measures would help ease tensions among ethnic and religious communities and help forge a greater sense of belonging to the country.