Progress for Iraqi government?

Here is one of those stories that might be cited to show the business of forming a real government is moving forward.

Iraqi Parliament Swears in New Ministers
By SINAN SALAHEDDIN Associated Press
Writer
June 08,2006 BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's parliament on Thursday approved three new key ministers, including a Sunni Arab to head the defense ministry, as violence left at least 19 people dead and 40 wounded, according to police.
The three, including ministers for national security and interior, were sworn in after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced the death of al-Qaida in Iraq chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
The new defense minister is Iraqi Army Gen. Abdul-Qader Mohammed Jassim al-Mifarji and Shiites Jawad al-Bolani for interior and Sherwan al-Waili for national security.
The posts are considered crucial for al-Maliki's government to implement a plan allowing Iraqi forces to take over security from the U.S.-led coalition within 18 months, opening the way for the eventual withdrawal of foreign troops. The appointments end a stalemate among Iraq's religious and ethnic groups over the crucial posts.

Before we get too excited, remember, all of this is happening inside the Green Zone. The fact that the Iraqi government created by the United States must for its own safety operate inside the U.S.-created, U.S.-managed and U.S.-fortified Green Zone should have no effect on its acceptance by the Iraqi people as a legitimate government that is not the puppet of the United States, don’t you think?