‘‘The success we are looking for — a stable Iraq — requires more effort ... But we can say that we had a good start,’’ Maliki told his people at a TV news conference to announce Zarqawi’s killing. Flanked by the country’s top US general and ambassador, he pledged: ‘‘Whenever there is a new Zarqawi, we will kill him,(too).’’

For an Iraqi public that craves security, that pledge alone could create a huge pool of good will and support for Maliki. That is what he needs, almost everyone agrees, to take on Iraq’s other, still-looming problems.

The fact that US officials allowed Maliki to announce his death made clear that American officials realise they have just as much to gain from Maliki’s success as he does. Maliki’s naming of candidates to the remaining unfilled Cabinet posts just a short time later — while less dramatic — was no less a good omen.

Parliament promptly approved the names — a far cry from its earlier reluctance to even meet to consider Maliki’s proposals to run the army and national police. That stalemate had dragged on for weeks because of a Shi’ite-Sunni-Kurdish inability to agree on who was acceptable.

SALLY BUZBEE