He's definitely done a lot better without a doubt. He's saying all the right things. He's definitely a better person in his thinking about Iraq. But the challenge is, and legitimately so, the Shias of Iraq have been screwed over for much of history. They paid a heavy price historically, so to bring back a lot of these Sunni tribes feels like an injustice to them.
I think this is where you need Iranian support. Abadi has been able to come to power, because Khamenei made it very clear that Maliki's time was up. That's really important. I think they are still looking at Iran for endorsement. Iranians can be very helpful in making sure that Abadi comes through and in lowering the sectarian language.
I say this all from the fact that the Iraqi Shias have paid the heaviest price in history for much of Saddam Hussein's rule, so I understand why they feel that since they were always the majority, always treated so terribly by the previous government, that the time is now to put all of that international support. Because Abadi also faces the challenge that much of his government is still the old cronies who are very much waiting for the same pay cheque and the same system. He is a very honest and respectable individual, but he's faced with the fact that he's surrounded by a whole bunch of inscrutable fellows.