Iraq- the next steps

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Originally Posted by Tribesman

Which is that main kurdish group that is backed by a Shia theocracy ?
Then again that theocracy isn't arab is it .~:doh:

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While of any use, tribal thing, Tribesman.

This is a lengthy and typically thoughtful analysis of the tensions in Iraq, from The Economist.

Most interesting for me is the apparent emergence of al-Maliki as a hard man. But in summary, there are so many fault lines repressed by the American presence, no-one is at all sure what will happen.

In short, the new establishment of Shias, Sunnis and Kurds sorely needs to build a sense of nationhood. The withdrawal agreement means that it will soon be for the Iraqis alone to define their destiny. For the next few years the Americans may yet find themselves holding the ring. But once the occupiers have left, the chances that the Iraqis will entrench and cherish a stable, federal, pluralist democracy must still be rated at less than even.

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Originally Posted by AlexanderSextus

For example, when Admiral Yamamoto was asked in 1941 why he didn't attack california after Pearl Harbor, he said

"I lived in the US. Most people own guns."

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I don't know if he said that, however, I do know he said this:

"Behind every blade of grass would be a(n American with a?) rifle"

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Originally Posted by SwedishFish

I don't know if he said that, however, I do know he said this:

"Behind every blade of grass would be a(n American with a?) rifle"

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That's actually a major malus for the USA if an opposing country tries to use subversion as a method of inner fighting. Since the majority of the people have guns, in a period of war, if the USA is losing and there is unrest and dissent, it is much easier to create armed militias using subversive tactics then in any other country in the entire world.