Iraqi lawmakers have been unable to appoint key posts despite security threats in north , east of country . Sunni terror group ISIS has seized large swathes of Iraqi and Syrian territory in recent months . Iraq 's political paralysis , even in the face of a threat as grave as ISIS ' sweep across huge swathes of the country , is a sign of just how difficult an agreement will be to reach . Nuri al - Maliki , Iraq 's embattled Prime Minister , refused to step down despite growing opposition . Al - Qaeda appears to be holding out for as long as possible in order to influence new government .
Iraqi lawmakers have been unable to appoint key posts despite security threats in north , east of country . Sunni terror group ISIS has seized large swathes of Iraqi and Syrian territory in recent months . Nuri al - Maliki , Iraq 's embattled Prime Minister , refused to step down despite growing opposition . Al - Qaeda appears to be holding out for as long as possible in order to influence new government .