Channels
Photo: AP
U.S. soldier carries Iraqi child after another bombing
Photo: AP

What do to with Iraq?

Americans should abandon aspirations for united Iraq

A total of 700 people killed in May, 30 killed just two days ago, and tens of thousands killed since the fall of Saddam Hussein make Iraq the most dangerous place on earth.

 

In fact, Iraq is at the outset of a civil war, a reality that would have been clearer without the massive American presence there. The Americans, who hoped the new Iraqi army would slowly replace them, were deeply disappointed.

 

The intensifying waves of Sunni terrorism are forcing other ethnic groups to arm at an increased pace. Senior Iraqi commanders are assassinated frequently, as are judges, military officers, officials, and army and police recruits.

 

The innocent Iraqi politician who dared visit Israel, Mithal al-Alusi, was attacked and saw two sons murdered before his eyes. He knows that his destiny may be the same, in the absence of the rule of law and a climate of anarchy.

 

Terrorists continue to attack oil-related targets and undermine the recovering economy. In the absence of a reliable security establishment, the American army decided about a month ago to initiate its own battle against the wave of car bombs, with the result being increased violence.

 

The masters of the land, the Sunnis, were completely erased from the political map, which is now shared by those who yesterday were perceived as Iraq’s inferior subjects – the Shiites and the Kurds.

 

The proud Sunnis would not allow for stability to take root in Iraq as long as they are not leading the country, but this will not happen soon when taking into account the brand of democracy brought to the country by U.S. President George W. Bush.

 

In two months, a 55-member committee is supposed to complete the drafting of the new Iraqi constitution. Only two committee members, however, are Sunni. Now there is willingness to allow 10 Sunnis to participate but this would not change the picture by much.

 

Moreover, the serious disagreements would not allow the constitution to be drafted on time.

 

If Israel can be divided, so can Iraq

 

The United States should be changing its Iraq policy, particularly in light of increasing calls in America to establish a timetable for the American military presence there, and in order to prevent a complete Iraqi collapse following a possible U.S. withdrawal.

 

Indeed, the Americans should abandon the idea of a united Iraq – the country’s huge size makes it impossible to rule in its entirety.

 

If the tiny Israel can be divided, it can be most certainly done in Iraq.

 

This will allow for improved control to be exercised over the states to be established, and for the first time it would be possible to establish a policy of reward and punishment.

 

Later, it would certainly be possible to create a confederacy of the various independent states, if they so wish.

 

As a first step, it is possible to establish a democratic, independent Kurdish state in the country’s north. The Kurds are interested, and what’s more, the area is home to immense oil reserves.

 

A wealthy, pro-western Kurdish country could certainly change the Iraqi climate and constitute a model to be imitated by other ethnic groups.

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.16.05, 10:07
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment