Iraq + Cultural Divisions

[Thirdfain]

I've been reading up on Iraqi history, and it seems to me that Iraq's different religeous/cultural groups really hate eachother. The Sunni hate the Shi'a, The Turkmens hate the Kurds, and the Kurds hate everyone.

It looks to me like the only thing which kept the entire country from erupting into war was Saddam's iron fist. Now, anyone can see that the formation of a stable, prosperous Iraq is absolutly vital to the success of the Middle East peace process, and to be honest, I'm not sure our government has what it takes to pull the disparate factions together and form a stable democracy.

To be honest, I'm fucking scared.

Anyone have any reassuring words? Or at least, assessments of the situation?

[Knife]

HMMM, encouraging words.....

Well the there are a shit load of different religeous and ethnic groups in America. While you can point out many a war and many a moment of violence in our history, we are usually considered to be a stable nation.

Though out history, many a group in Brittian has been at each others throats. Scotts really didn't like the English at many a point, JackObites and Catholics in Brittian were not friends either. Today, one would be reasonable to assume that the UK is a stable nation.

Every nation it would seem has a bunch of different groups in them. Some make it as stable nations, some don't. Don't be too hasty to doom Iraq because of Shi'ites and Sunni's not to mention Christians and Kurds. Yes it could be bad, but it could also work out.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

I've been reading up on Iraqi history, and it seems to me that Iraq's different religeous/cultural groups really hate eachother. The Sunni hate the Shi'a, The Turkmens hate the Kurds, and the Kurds hate everyone.

It looks to me like the only thing which kept the entire country from erupting into war was Saddam's iron fist. Now, anyone can see that the formation of a stable, prosperous Iraq is absolutly vital to the success of the Middle East peace process, and to be honest, I'm not sure our government has what it takes to pull the disparate factions together and form a stable democracy.

To be honest, I'm fucking scared.

Anyone have any reassuring words? Or at least, assessments of the situation?

Well, the country ran for decades before Saddam just fine, so in theory there's no reason why you need a brutal tyrant to run Iraq. If we can keep order long enough to implement a federal system based on states which actually reflect the ethnic divisions, we probably have it made.

[Mr. B]

Now that saddam is gone and all the shiites who have been opressed for 30 years crawl out of their slums nad realize that the sunnis are no longer the dominant group they are going to want their share of the country. And the sunnis and not going to want to give up their relatively middle class existence. Its like africa after imperialism. countless civil wars and tribal fueding. Have a happy occupation.

[Knife]

Now that saddam is gone and all the shiites who have been opressed for 30 years crawl out of their slums nad realize that the sunnis are no longer the dominant group they are going to want their share of the country. And the sunnis and not going to want to give up their relatively middle class existence. Its like africa after imperialism. countless civil wars and tribal fueding. Have a happy occupation.

Depends if we can get them a common purpose (or any one including themselves can get them a common purpose). Name a country that does not either have or have had oppressed minorities. There will be undoubtedly reprisals, but if a lid can be put on the killing and they spend more energy on rebuilding their country rather than killing each other, then they have a good chance.