"Winning the war, losing the peace"
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Here in the 'West', the evolution from theocracy to secular government took many centuries and much bloodshed:
en.wikipedia.org
Most of Europe's monarchies did not lose governmental control until after WWI, even though the advantages of the separation of Church and state had been in open discussion for centuries before:
"I esteem it above all things necessary to distinguish exactly the business of civil government from that of religion and to settle the just bounds that lie between the one and the other."
-- John Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration, 1689
Being an optimist, I don't think it will take nearly as long for the ME to change course - but it won't happen overnight. But it is happening, indeed we are witnessing the 'enlightenment' of the ME in real time.
But US history has shown that to try and force change often results in a lasting opposition. The three countries that the US has had prolonged military occupations before during 'peace' (not during a world war) are Vietnam, Korea and Cuba. Each of which are among the handful of 'communist' countries still around...not a coincidence, imo.
Your son had it right, three independent states should have been set up for the Kurds, Shiites and Sunnies...and whether they want to remain in a loose coalition called Iraq or totally separate should have been up to them. It is still not to late to move in this direction, the main obstacle would be placating Turkey's opposition to the formation of a Kurdish state - perhaps by allowing Turkey entry into the EuroUnion?
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'Dinner with the president elect'...
"good show, old chap!"
Jerry |
