There is the faint possibility of heartening news today from Iraq. McClatchy Papers Washington Bureau is reporting this morning that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is attempting to heal some of the political breaches between the three main sects in Iraq.

BAGHDAD - Iraq's Shiite Muslim Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Saturday announced that his government would open its doors to some former members of Saddam Hussein's predominantly Sunni Baath Party.

The announcement by al-Maliki, a longtime Shiite hard-liner whose Dawa party is backed by Iran, reverses a 2003 Bush administration decision to purge Baathists from the Iraqi military and government. It also appeared to be the first move in a new effort by al-Maliki and the U.S. administration to strengthen centrist political leaders, isolate Sunni and Shiite extremists and quell the fighting between Sunnis and Shiites.

Al-Maliki spoke at a reconciliation conference of Shiite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish leaders after a Friday video conference with President Bush, and a White House spokesman immediately called his remarks encouraging.

It’s not surprising that Mr Maliki is taking his instructions from Washington; he is our puppet, after all. But this attempt, if sincere, could lead to some political repairs in the government.

Although none of the leaders of the large ethnic militias were present at the conference, and none of the leaders who did attend gave any public indication that they would try to restrain their militias, it is still a step, and one can always have hope. However, hope is not a plan for action.

The writers of the article specifically note that Mr Maliki gave no hint that he would try to restrain the Shiite militias which have been attacking Sunnis and Americans. This is the sort of action that was once called “leadership,” a subject the Bu$h maladministration has no experience with, and can thus not teach to Mr Maliki.

Previous attempts to create a solid base of power for the central government, such as resurrecting the pre-invasion national army have failed. That army was Sunni-heavy and contained many Ba’ath Party members. Today Sunnis are afraid to rejoin the army, fearing they will be set upon by Shiites.

Mr Maliki has several times made the public point that Iraq is a sovereign nation and that his government is the legitimate face of the nation. It is incumbent on him to act that way, and be seen to work to reduce the impact of the Shiite militias on the bloodshed. If he does in fact have any political capital in his own country he must press for more Sunni participation on all levels of the government.