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The Trisection Of Iraq

Call From USA to Iraq Phone Card - Pin By Email

Who would have thought it would be a pleasure to actually discuss Iraq again. I had been suffering Iraq fatigue because they discuss it all the time and now that an election is upon us there are millions more trying to jam Iraq all over to show it as a failure. Everyone knows my opinion about that (if you don’t, I think it is going OK but not as good as it could; not as well as the right says and not as badly as the left says) but after a week of Mark Foley and all the sleaze and dirt surrounding his sexcapades, I am glad to get back to Iraq.

There has been a great deal of sectarian violence in that country. People can say that the US caused it but is has existed for a long time. It has gotten worse now that Saddam is not able to quash people from other sects. There are reports from people trying to paint this as worse than it is that they are in a civil war over there. I don’t think they are but I think they are on the verge. Right now they have violence directed at different groups. If they get into a sustained conflict, then they will be in a civil war. People need to understand that a civil war could be the natural progression of things. There was a civil war in this country before we got on track. We will probably never have another civil war but I would not rule out a new revolution especially if our government does not get its act together.

Today there is news of a plan to divide Iraq into three areas. The Iraq Study Group, chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker is going to have recommendations on this after the mid-term elections.

The Baker commission has grown increasingly interested in the idea of splitting the Shi’ite, Sunni and Kurdish regions of Iraq as the only alternative to what Baker calls “cutting and running” or “staying the course”. Times Online

This has merit in that the Kurds have an area so all that would have to be done is divide the other two. They basically live apart so it would probably be a matter of dividing land. In that part of the world it could take years for them to agree but in the end it might actually bring more stability to the country. What we need to be weary of though, is dividing the country into three sections that act like independent countries. We have seen this in Korea and Germany. The countries isolate themselves and become separate entities. I think for Iraq to work effectively, they need to have these areas set up like the states within the US. Each would have its own governing body and each would elect a certain number of people to the governing body of the country. This would allow each sect to have representation in Iraq. The problem might be in getting the politicians to get along but I think in time that would work out.

There is no guarantee that the tribes would not invade the area assigned to another. That part of the world is good for invading and taking land. They are particularly good at making deals and then going back on their word. Given that it is not unreasonable to expect them to fight over the agreement of some portion of it that was violated. This could trigger the civil war that has been feared but it is an option that might offer the best hope for a peaceful solution that everyone can agree on. I am anxious to see this presented in its entirety so we can get a better grasp of what is being proposed. I will also be interested in seeing how the Iraqis react to such a plan.