BBC: War-torn Iraq 'facing collapse'

[FourScore]

War-torn Iraq 'facing collapse'

Iraq faces the distinct possibility of collapse and fragmentation, UK foreign policy think tank Chatham House says. Its report says the Iraqi government is now largely powerless and irrelevant in many parts of the country.

SNIP

This latest paper, written by Gareth Stansfield, a Middle East expert, is unremittingly bleak, says BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins.

Mr Stansfield, of Exeter University and Chatham House, argues that the break-up of Iraq is becoming increasingly likely.

In large parts of the country, the Iraqi government is powerless, he says, as rival factions struggle for local supremacy.

The briefing paper, entitled Accepting Realities in Iraq, says: "There is not 'a' civil war in Iraq, but many civil wars and insurgencies involving a number of communities and organisations struggling for power."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6663935.stm

[Wednesdays]

1. Ya think?

eom

[msongs]

2. tribes, doing the same thing they did 2000 years ago only with better weapons nt

[LynnTheDem]

3. And the first clue was...???

All the military brass and experts and anti-invasioners around the world who said this was exactly what would happen were just lucky guessers??!

:eyes:

[aquart]

4. Somalia.

Understand, the Republican talking heads are yammering about how if we leave LIKE THE DEMOCRATS WANT, there will be a bloodbath. That's because they know there will be a bloodbath no matter what, no matter when. The Iraqis have a lot to settle and they have never, voluntarily, settled anything peacefully.

The Republicans were told this would happen. It's happening. Now their hope is that the inevitable bloodbath will drench the Democrats.

[ninkasi]

5. Reality is to Bush

as sunlight, crosses, and garlic are to vampires.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. "Most insurgent attacks remain concentrated ...

... in just four of Iraq's 18 provinces, containing less than 42% of the population," a Foreign Office spokesman told the Press Association news agency.

Oh, so that's alright then. It's just two fifths of the population at incredibly high risk of murder, then. :eyes: