Ibrahim al-Jaafari is no strongman. He speaks so softly that he often seems to be whispering to himself. Even when audible, he can be hard to understand: his vocabulary is drawn heavily from classical Arabic, full of flowery phrases and literary allusions. Although al-Jaafari served as a Vice President in Iraq's interim government, his patrician bearing seems more suited to studying philosophy than engaging in the dirty, dangerous business of Iraqi politics. In a world of tough-guy posturing, al-Jaafari doesn't hide his sensitive side: he bonded with former U.S. proconsul Paul Bremer over their mutual passion for gourmet cuisine.
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