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Iraq's first democratic gov't sworn in
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraq's first democratically elected government was sworn in Tuesday after last-minute bargaining by the new prime minister failed to bring the disaffected Sunni minority into key Cabinet posts.
One by one, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and members of his Cabinet walked to a podium and pledged to defend Iraq and its people amid a surge of violence that has killed nearly 170 people in six days.
But five ministries - including the key defense and oil portfolios - remained in temporary hands and two deputy prime minister's slots were unfilled as al-Jaafari struggled to balance the demands of Iraq's competing ethnic and religious factions.
Iraqi is a hostile environement of fanatics perfectly willing to spill blood for their religious/geographical/tribal agendae. The brutality of the former regime kept these at bay, as evidenced by the mass graves from the 80s that are even now being unearthed. The disorder generated by the American-led overthrow of Saddam is their 'window of opportunity'. Our forces and frankly all westerners are now the target of these warring interests. We cannot solve these problems. The Iraqis must.