When is a coup not a coup?

Well I guess that democracy thing just isn't working out as well as Bush had hoped so there's now rumored moves afoot to "reorganize" the new Iraqi government and form "a new parliamentary bloc that would seek to replace the current government and that would likely exclude supporters of the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr." Towards that end, the White House has been entertaining various secondary players.

Of course, al-Maliki, to put it mildly, is not amused. "'We know what's going on and we will sabotage it,' said a close al-Maliki aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivities involved. He did not elaborate." Al-Sadr aides also indicate they will fight any attempt to usurp his power.

Notice any word about new elections in all this strategizing? Me either. Anyone remember the definition of coup? Well, not quite a coup perhaps. They built this fail safe into the system.

Al-Maliki's government, under the Iraqi constitution, could be ousted if a simple majority of parliament's 275 members opposed it in a vote of confidence. Parties in the talks expressed confidence they had enough votes.

Too bad we didn't have that provision here. It would make it much simpler to oust our own incompetent leader.