[lit-ideas] Iraqi Civil War?
- From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 13:32:33 -0700
Here are two comments from my friend in Iraq regarding whether Iraq is
having a Civil War:
"The media announced civil war in Iraq about 6 months ago (roughly). They
are probably gun shy about doing so again unless it actually happens.
"Most Iraqis still see themselves as Iraqis; not as Sunni or Shiia. There
are many people here with some level of pan-shiia or pan-arab, or
pan-whatever inclinations, but most Iraqis see themselves as descendants of
the Babylonians, etc, Mesopotamians, descendants of Ur, etc. A distinct
nation with a distinct culture and history. Many Kurds do not agree, but it
seems that many (or even most) do agree.
"There is a definite power play at work, with the goal being control of
Iraq; or increased power within Iraq.
The fall of Saddam left a huge power vacuum, which the US had no intention
of filling (sorry, left wing theorists). The problem is that the current
government is not doing a great job of filling the power vacuum. As
different strong leaders emerge and claw their way upwards, the new power
structure will emerge and things will settle down.
"Iran wants to take over southern Iraq, but it's not clear that they will be
able to incite enough support to swing it. Many think this is more a
distraction from their bomb making plans."
"It is pretty violent here. However there isn't really a civil war per the
definition that was taught in the California public school system when I
attended. Much of the violence is paybacks from the Saddam era. Also, the
Iranian agents have been running around killing certain former members of
the military, most notable pilots.
"There are murders for business reasons, murders from the extreme religious
types trying to enforce Sharia, and your everyday robberies that turn into
killings. People get killed because they work for the Americans, etc.
"None of the above really fall into the category of a civil war. More a
situation of lawlessness and casual murder."
Lawrence
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