Rather than writing a lot about this, I'm simply going to point you all to a couple of posts.
This one postulates that the deadlock in forming a government in Iraq is due to Iran not wanting a government formed. Makes plenty of sense.
This one postulates that Iraq, with the help of the U.S., is on the verge of naming a strongman to get things under control.
Pick your poison. Of course, both could be correct. And if the second one is correct .... how far we've come from removing that bad man Saddam!