Editorial: Maliki Tours Gulf States

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was given red-carpet treatment as he toured Gulf states to explain his national reconciliation plan, which shows there is light at the end of the tunnel. His visit to Saudi Arabia resulted in the initiation of a broad-based diplomatic, economic and security partnership. Saudi Arabia will help confront the terrorists and dry up their funding sources, and the private sector will invest in Iraqi markets. The same applies to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, where Maliki negotiated many deals. We encourage the prime minister to strengthen Iraq’s relationships with Arab and other Islamic states, which deteriorated under the former regime. Although Maliki postponed his visit to Jordan, relations with our brothers there are undoubtedly very good. As King Abdullah said, Jordan is the lifeblood artery of Iraq. We back our government and prime minister, whose courage ought to be appreciated by all Iraqis.