Iraq's Survival Still at Stake, Report Warns

[hang a left]

Iraq's Survival Still at Stake, Report Warns

MORE

LONDON (Reuters) - Iraq could splinter into civil war and destabilize the whole region if the interim government, U.S. forces and United Nations fail to hold the ring among factions struggling for power, according to a British thinktank.
The best Iraq can hope for is to muddle through an 18-month political transition that began when Washington formally handed over sovereignty on June 28, said a report released this week by the prestigious Royal Institute of International Affairs.

Under the rosiest of three scenarios set out in the report, the interim government would prove able to keep majority Shi'ite Muslims, minority Sunni Muslims, secular nationalists and Kurdish leaders broadly engaged in the political process.

"No one will be very happy, but no one will monopolize power either," the report said.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=6145759

[saigon68]

1. HALLIBURTON'S PROFIT AT STAKE-- better title

The rich need to be paid back by the BUSH CRIMINALS

[bemildred]

2. I just love happy talk.

This report is wildly optimistic.

[jsheriff]

3. Last Scenario not so Optimistic

Did you actually read the article? They describe three possible scenarios. Number three includes:

'In the worst case, instability in Iraq would suck in its neighbors and cause a regional upheaval which the report said would be "beyond U.S. or multinational control." '

The speculation includes the disintegration of Saudi Arabia, the direct intervention of Turkish troops to put down a break-off Kurdish state, and the spread of active Sunni-Shia confrontation to Iran and Syria.

If that's optimistic, I shudder to think what your pessimistic scenario includes.

[hang a left]

4. That was sarcasm.

Welcome to DU :hi:

[bemildred]

7. It is optimistic in thinking that

there is any possibility of stabilizing the place
while it remains occupied by foreign troops. It is
much too late for that.

Edit: It is already "beyond U.S. or multinational control."
The assumption that it is not is a combination of hubris and
wishful thinking.

[BrotherBuzz]

5. Turkey is ready to mix it up, too

Turkey considering military action in Iraq!



Turkey Signals Possible Military Action Against Kurds in Iraq
By BURAK EGE BEKDIL, ANKARA


The Turkish government hinted Sept. 1 that it may send troops into Iraq to fight Turkish Kurd rebels
there.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told reporters here that Turkey would do whatever its security required.

The United States is not yet in a position to launch a military operation against the PKK, Gul said in
an apparent sign of growing Turkish impatience with the United States. We shall not proceed by
relying on another country. We know how to deal with our enemy.



More at: http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=3152081&C=mideas...

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. According to chimp , mission accomplished

let freedom reign! Just a few dead ender Saddam Loyalists.

[54anickel]

8. Too bad they didn't put this much thought into the process BEFORE

the war!!! Oh, that's right SOME people it the world did, but were totally ignored by the crusaders.