The unfinished war game in Iraq

US exit will inflame power struggle for control of land

Even seven years after the US-led invasion, the situation in Iraq is far from stable. Sunday's parliamentary election, the second since the US invasion, was marred by factional feud and bloody violence. About 40 people were killed and 90 injured in Baghdad alone. So palpable was the fear in the capital that the authorities had to impose a curfew to ensure safe transportation of ballots from polling centers to the main counting office.

The election was originally scheduled for late last year and then Jan 21. Finally on Sunday, millions of Iraqis voted to elect 325 members to the parliament from among more than 6,000 candidates representing 86 political parties.