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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Can Democracy Survive in Iraq?

    What if you have an election and nobody wins? That's the latest challenge to democracy in Iraq, and it may take months for a new government to be formed. It's not even clear if the current prime minister or one of his predecessors should get the first chance to try building a coalition strong enough to take charge.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    What if you have an election and nobody wins? That's the latest challenge to democracy in Iraq, and it may take months for a new government to be formed. It's not even clear if the current prime minister or one of his predecessors should get the first chance to try building a coalition strong enough to take charge. Prolonged delay might produce political compromise or a return to sectarian civil war, and both leading candidates are looking over their shoulders at Iran. Should the Obama Administration stay the course and pull combat troops out by the end of August, or will continued stability require US boots on the ground?

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Karen Radziner

      Managing Producer, To the Point & Which Way LA?

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      Frances Anderton

      architecture critic and author

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      Ned Parker

      Reuters News Service

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      Laith Kubba

      Spokesman, former Iraqi Prime Minister al-Jaafari

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michael O'Hanlon

      Brookings Institution

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