Reuters quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s political campaign:
“Maliki may be creating bargaining chips to play with the Kurds if he aims to gain their support for his third term,” said Ramzy Mardini, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council.
“All this is pre-election jockeying. Once the dust settles and the government formation dynamics are under way, it will be clearer who has the advantage.”