The grim political and security situation of Iraq sparks the sympathy of all those who support a strong Iraqi nation. Daily incidents in the capital Baghdad has reached to a staggering level. Thousands of people have lost lives and the sectarian antagonism is boiling.  Sunnis and Shias who previously had a better relation are on the brink of civil war.  Relations between two sects have deteriorated and the country is on the brink of civil war as well as territorial disintegration.

The last week election though put Ayad Allawi who has supporters among different communities and Nouri Al-Maliki who is blamed of maintaining close relation with Tehran which to some extent can be interpreted as positive but have not resolved any problem. The country has struggled to contain domestic instability and regional volatility since the US withdrawal.

Iraq is also facing the resurgence of al-Qaida and other Islamist groups, who have been emboldened by the civil war in Syria and who last December took control of a province in the Sunni-dominated north.

Various Sunni Arab actors from both Iraq and Syria developed cross-border ties as part of the post-2003 Iraqi insurgency, particularly in the Sunni north-west areas that separate Iraq and Syria. Groups such as Islamic State of Sham al-Iraq has foothold in both countries.

Along with the mistake that Iraqi government did not extended the US military presence, the government under leadership of Nouri Al-Maliki could not win the hearts and minds of minority Sunnis. Rather his policies and activities further marginalized the community which led to flow of Sunni radical Islamists.

Often Iraqi Al-Qaeda while claiming the responsibility of suicide bombings in the country adds that the particular attack was carried out only to revenge the government. In other words, from their point of view, Baghdad was not the center of a national government rather a Shiite government sustaining close ties with Islamic Repubic of Iran.

Thus, without responsible Baghdad policies and staying away from the political rivalry dirt going on between Tehran and Riyadh, the situation will grow worse. Hope the new government with a strong opposition reshapes the foreign policies and develops a neutral stance in regional controversies. Otherwise, the ultimate loser of this dirty game will be Iraqis and the government.