Over the past few weeks, the Iraqi government did its best to convince Arab leaders that their personal security is assured should they attend the Arab summit in Baghdad. Despite tremendous efforts to prove this point, car bombs continued to rip through Iraqi cities and Al Qaida affiliates and local militias remained active. Political chaos and differences among Iraqi factions also made many Arab leaders turn down the invitation.
Regardless, the mere holding of the summit in Baghdad yesterday is seen by many Iraqis as a signal of their reintegration into the Arab world. For Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki it serves other objectives. It symbolises recognition by the entire Arab world, including those who opposed his rule for the past six years, of his leadership. The summit will also strengthen his hand vis-a-vis his political rivals. He has already been using security forces and the courts to target Sunni political rivals and consolidate his power.
