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Maliki Scrambles to Address Deteriorating Iraqi Security

Iraq's leaders have no answers as they struggle to reassure Iraqis after a wave of terrorist bombings.

Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (C) and acting Defence Minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi (L) attend a funeral ceremony for soldiers killed by militants, in Baghdad April 28, 2013. Militants shot dead five Iraqi soldiers in the Sunni Muslim stronghold province of Anbar on Saturday and protesters said they were forming an "army" after four days of unrest that raised fears of a return to widespread sectarian civil conflict. REUTERS/Stringer (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY CIVIL UNREST) - RTXZ2Y6
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (C) and acting Defense Minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi (L) attend a funeral ceremony for soldiers killed by militants, in Baghdad, April 28, 2013. — REUTERS

May 20 was a terrible day for the residents of Baghdad and other Iraqi cities. It started as more than 10 car bombs detonated, killing and wounding dozens of civilians.

The scenes of destruction in Baghdad, Basra, Babel and other areas coincided with a political crisis on the verge of complete meltdown. In addition, many Iraqi observers were disappointed that the political forces did not reach peaceful solutions.

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