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To: Cogito Ergo Sum who wrote (30654)	4/2/2003 7:42:03 PM
From: EL KABONG!!!	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 74559

Hi KastelCo, While we in the West view a loose coalition of smaller countries comprised of tribes friendly to one another as a possible solution to the reconstruction of Iraq once the war is finished, most Arabic nations are firmly opposed to such a solution. You mentioned one reason, which is an amicable division of natural resources, which could also include trading routes to the sea (no one wants to be a land-locked country). But a more insurmountable obstacle is the determined opposition to allowing some of these tribes autonomy. For example, Turkey would never in a thousand years go along with the creation of a Kurdistan. Nor would many nations appreciate the creation of a country governed by Shiites, which many fear would align themselves with fundamentalist Iran. There's more examples, of course, but these two are perhaps the largest obstacles. (The fear is that whoever ends up with the most black gold could dictate a new set of rules to other Arabic countries, and present a challenge to OPEC.) KJC

To: Cogito Ergo Sum who wrote (30654)	4/2/2003 10:42:03 PM
From: Moominoid	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74559

It is like Lebanon + Kurdistan but with far few Christians - called Assyrians, Chaldeans etc. The tribes referred to are Arab tribes. The problem with an independent Kurdistan is I fear the minute it is recognized it gets attacked by Turkey just like Bosnia was the minute Germany recognized the new state. There is effectively a Kurdish state now, just no-one recognizes it formally and they claim they want to be part of Iraq in the future when Saddam is gone. The existence of the Kurdish state showed just how weak the Iraqi government was under the sanctions and no-fly zone and was a major point against war on Iraq. If they can't control Kurdistan how the hell will they attack anyone else?