Why does the US make deals with its enemies and abandon its friends? The answer may lie in the fable of “The Wolf and The Lamb,” in which a big bad wolf wants to devour an innocent little lamb. Such stories have been around for centuries and are deeply ingrained in our culture.

Iraqis were not exactly dancing in the streets after last week’s elections, but it looks very much as if a healthy democratic process has produced the best possible outcome — one that leaves most players slightly dissatisfied.