Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that “we’re watching closely as Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi enters the third week of trying to form his government. The Iraqi people need and deserve a government that frees the country from external intimidation, puts the prosperity of the Iraqi people first and tackles the major challenges that continue to face Iraq”. Pompeo further asserted: “Iraqi leaders must put aside the sectarian quota system and make compromises that lead to government formation for the good of the Iraqi people, and for the partnership between the U.S. and Iraq. The Iraqi government, too, must heed the call from many elements of Iraqi society to bring all armed groups under state control”.