Signs of Sovereignty?
I like any signs that Iraq is making steps towards actually ruling its own country. One good sign in that regard? It is trying to get the US and Iran to talk. I don’t know how far they will get, but it is Interesting to see them making moves to improve their own position from an international relations perspective without US instigation. Of course for every one of those you get, you also get a dozen complaints about the government being ineffectual, so your mileage may vary.
Another interesting piece of Iraq news I saw recently was an analysis of the costs of the insurgency. I don’t think his numbers are correct because the US involvement has many logistical requirements that simply wouldn’t exist for locals, but it is an interesting way of looking at insurgent warfare.