tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15332945.post6576527307921090787..comments2024-02-08T05:16:28.230-05:00Comments on Defense Statecraft: Iraq from a Different Point of ViewRobert Farleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233771830519084383noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15332945.post-81294317762656050222007-03-27T15:03:00.000-04:002007-03-27T15:03:00.000-04:00You close with your suggestion for Iraq, that of p...You close with your suggestion for Iraq, that of partitioning the country into regions so all have a space and will presumably live quietly among themselves. I agree with your proposal, but things are not as easy as with Yugoslavia, which was/is not easy. Two outside factors play a huge role in the instability of Iraq, that of terrorists and criminals, and the influence of direct actions by the neighboring state of Iran. Neither of these played a significant role in the break up of Yugoslavia, although the argument can be readily made that the political and ethnic parties were themselves criminal.<BR/><BR/>Your partitioning would be along the lines of ethnicity, although you list two divisions based upon religion. The Shia and Sunni are the two dominant parties of the religion of Islam. If basing on religion, what of the multitude of diverse factions of both Sunni and Shia? Should they receive their own region?<BR/><BR/>The other important discussion relating to partitioning is the allocation of the two natural resources, oil and water. Although an oil rich state, all regions do not contain oil. Nor do all regions have the two major rivers of the Middle East running through them. Partitioning would require an equitable parceling of enough of these resources to minimally appease all; oil for this generation, water for the next. Other considerations would have to be made, such as the giving up of family lands, churches, shrines, etc., but may be less important than remaining alive.<BR/><BR/>The last point I will make is the soundness of polls taken from the Iraqi populace. I question who is left? Any upper or middle class left are in hiding, dressing down and driving beaten up cars, if driving at all. The certainly will not talk in the open to reporters, for fear of death. So, how then makes up the sampling of citizens the polls cite? I do not believe the polls represent anything but a majority of zealots, disenfranchised unable to get out, or fighters who have temporarily placed their weapons aside.kyernelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01902090605966594049noreply@blogger.com