Iraq and Afghanistan

The delayed National Conference did open in Baghdad, although under siege conditions with mortars bursting outside. Open 1100 delegates chosen in communities throughout Iraq showed up. The first session was thrown into disarray by angry protests against the fighting in Najaf. One hundred members stormed out; however they later returned. Today's report suggests that the Conference has drafted a request to Muqtada al-Sadr asking him to leave the shrine and join the political process. It was drafted by a distant relative of Muqtada and will be delivered today by a delegation of sixty traveling to Najaf. Whether this will be seen as anything different than another attempt by Allawi to stop the fighting is unclear. But the fact that the Conference took place and that it did get large number of delegates that were desired are encouraging signs, at least for the moment.