Nobody’s client: the reawakening of Iraqi sovereignty

Maliki’s political parties and their allies gained ground on its competitors which will allow for a local-level grounding for national policies, the continuation of which will depend on the results of the national elections later this year.

Lydia Khalil for the Lowy Institute for International Policy writes this is a new page for Maliki, his leadership of Iraq and "describes the major shift that has taken place in Iraq's relationship with the United States and how today Baghdad is pursuing its own interests with much less regard for Washington's desires."