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Analysts Warn Iraq Precarious as Protests Persist

Dale Gavlak

   AMMAN, JORDAN - As hundreds of Iraqi protesters are hunkered down in
   Baghdad's central Tahrir Square and other provinces, analysts say the
   country is facing a precarious moment, one which bold and concrete
   action is needed from the government. But can and will Iraq's
   leadership deliver? A renewed wave of anti-government demonstrations
   has seen at least 250 killed and more than 4,000 wounded this month.
   Teachers and lawyers' unions, even Planning Ministry employees, are
   joining young protesters.

   Analysts say that nobody, be it Iraq's leaders or the protesters, know
   where the demonstrations will go. The protests are leaderless, without
   an organizational structure, and are not unified. But the disparate
   groupings of the young jobless, activist intellectuals or poor Shiites
   are clearly demanding an end to widespread corruption, unemployment,
   the lack of public services, like electricity, and cronyism engulfing
   Iraq.

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