As predicted, Iraq is gradually disintegrating as a nation (Ron Paul, Iran, middle east)

[tablemtn]

"Militants" not only overran large parts of Ramadi and Fallujah yesterday - two of Iraq's major cities - but they continue to hold their gains, and Iraq's own military is having a tough time dislodging them:

Iraq militants 'still control parts of western cities'

Fierce fighting continues as government troops try to force militants aligned to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) from Ramadi and Fallujah.

This current round of fighting began after the bloody arrest of a Sunni Iraqi member of parliament last week in Ramadi, in which several of his bodyguards and relatives were killed along with Iraqi soldiers. Then, Iraqi soldiers attempted to dismantle an anti-goverment "protest camp" in that same city, setting off fighting in which the soldiers were overrun and forced to retreat.

Before the Iraq war, there was an entire small school of editorial commentary warning of the same potentially dire consequences of an invasion. For example, Ron Paul's article "Don’t Attack Iraq" from March 2002:

All we hear about in the biased media is the need to eliminate Saddam Hussein, with little regard for how this, in itself, might totally destabilize the entire Middle East and Central Asia. It could, in fact, make the Iraq “problem” much worse.

And indeed, it did. So whenever you hear politicians or "commentators" pushing for military action in countries like Syria or Iran... remember Iraq. It's still there, gradually melting down.

[Mircea]

Originally Posted by tablemtn

As predicted, Iraq is gradually disintegrating as a nation

It's actually a country.

Arab equates to European. Or, um, you know, "Native American" (snicker). It's like which flavor of Arab. Saddam came form one of the smallest Arabic tribes in that region. The Arabic tribes have not yet advance to the level of supra-tribe, which is what happened about 400 years ago in Europe.

In addition to that, you have the Sunni/Shi'a split.

The Sunni are like Protestants in every way shape and form you could possibly imagine. The Shi'a are just like catholics or Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Rite, Assyrian, Nestorian, et al.

Then there's the Kurds.

Then you have a variety of both Turkic tribes, and Turco-Mongol tribes.

For example, the Turkmen are Turco-Mongol, and their kindred hail from Turkmenistan.

Then you have the "pure" Turkic tribes that were migrating on the heels of the so-called "Ottoman" Turks, and they kind of got sandwiched there.

Best case scenario: give the "Sunni Triangle" to Syria, let the Shi'a stay where they are, and grant the Kurds independence.

The Shi'a Arabs can run a confederation or federation providing representation for the each of the tribes.

The Kurds and Shi'a can grant "home rule" (like the Brits did) for the Turkic and Turco-Mongol tribes.

That is the fastest, cheapest, fairest way to peace and prosperity.

Tribally....

Mircea