Today in Iraq

You remember Iraq.

I've been guilty--a classic journalistic (and U.S. governmental) sin--of letting my attention slip as violence has waned, Afghanistan has ramped up and we've been having this slightly interesting presidential election this year.

But here, via the excellent Matt Duss, is the latest from AP about the continuing internecine squabbles--this time between the two remaining Shi'ite powers, now that Sadr has stood down. The current machinations may or may not turn out to be important...but it's interesting how my perspective on all this has changed over the past few months:

Given the fact that we're neck deep in an economic crisis at home--and the unraveling along Af/Pak border, where the real bad guys are--I don't have much patience for the eternal Iraqi shenanigans. I know that it's important that Iraq is kept from disintegration. But this is a different world now, and we will soon have a different U.S. president, and our ability--and the national desire--to referee the carnage is severely limited. It seems the Iraqis understand that and are jockeying for power. It would be nice if they could do this quietly, but somehow I suspect they won't.