If I’m reading between the lines correctly…

…we may soon see a resignation by U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi (or at least some serious squawking).

In a secret session today, the Iraqi Governing Council unanimously nominated Iyad Allawi (a current Governing Council member) as the Prime Minister for the Transitional Government beginning June 30. This despite Brahimi’s expressed belief that no current GC members should hold top offices in the transitional government. According to the NYT, currently

It [is] unclear whether Brahimi, who is charged with putting together a new government, accepted the nomination.

The existing Council has expressed disapproval with the plan to keep them out of key positions in the transitional government. Noting specifically

The whole idea of having the U.N. or any foreign entity to appoint or lead a political process in Iraq is not acceptable.

There’s widespread speculation that it’s more unacceptable to the existing GC members with high ambitions in a new Iraq than it is to anyone else, but I suppose they do have a point. Having said that, existing council members haven’t exactly distinguished themselves as trustworthy leaders.

The fact that Bremer’s on board with this nomination, does suggest that the US is not truly behind the UN’s plan for the transition, as well. We’ll see if Brahimi bolts or rolls over and plays dead.

UPDATE:

The White House said the nomination was only one of many recommendations being made to U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who has led the process for drawing up the new government and is expected to announce the final lineup by Monday.

The council is “one of many groups that have made some recommendations to Mr. Brahimi,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

Brahimi’s spokesman, Ahmad Fawzi, said that the envoy “welcomes and respects the choice of Mr. Allawi.” He did not say whether Brahimi backed the nomination.