Key issue to Iraqi gridlock: Jaafari stands firm, will not go

Apologies for stating the obvious:

The refusal of Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to step down as Iraqi politicians so far "have failed to form a national unity government despite the urgent need to prevent a surge of sectarian killings from tipping the country into full-scale civil war", shines a powerful light on the central problem in Iraqi politics today.

The [Shi'ite Iraqi] Alliance is expected to bow to intense pressure from Kurdish and Sunni Arab politicians to drop Jaafari, who is also opposed by some Shi'ite leaders within the bloc.

Jaafari's critics accuse him of monopolizing power and ruling ineffectively, but Alliance officials fear removing him could divide the bloc at a time when Iraq needs a united leadership to tackle insurgent violence and sectarian tensions.

There. Did you see it? Look again.

Iraq needs a united leadership to tackle insurgent violence and sectarian tensions.

The Shi'ite Iraqi Alliance sees "united Iraqi leadership" synonymous with "united Shi'ite leadership".

The Kurds and, especially, the Sunni beg to differ. That is why this is called a crisis. Democratic practice requires, nay, demands compromise. Jaafari's Alliance Party won the vote. But they have not been able to form a government.

He cannot govern, therefore he must step down. Parliamentary Procedures 101.