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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (163319)	5/31/2005 3:17:08 PM
From: Sun Tzu	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

>> But I would mention that my conversations with Iraqis (many of them who were forced to flee under Saddam and later returned as linguists) overwhelmingly stated that previously there was less religious strife in Iraq and most people considered themselves Iraqis, rather than identifying themselves along religious lines. Yes this is true but with a twist. Categorizing the Iraqis as Shia, Sunni, Kurd was a simplifying handicap for US forces and population to be able to make sense of it rather than the reality. Iraqis have always had tribal rivalries. So feel free to use a long list tribe names (Shia and Sunni) instead of their religion, and my statement mostly stands. I say mostly because US has had a very big role in heightening the sectarian rivalries. Firstly by designating a large segments of the population into convenient pigeonholes. And secondly by awarding power in similar ways. And last but not least, by creating the power vacuum that enhanced the rivalries. >> We certainly should let them know that we'll not stand being caught in the middle of a religious civil war and that we stand ready to leave them to their own devices should we continue to see political intransigence on either side. It will never happen. Leaving them on their own that is. Leaving aside all the major US goals for invasion in the first place, US will not want to see close alliances of 3 weak states with neighbouring countries, or the invasion of Kurdistan by Turkey. So expect to see US in Iraq till our grandchildren get married.