Civil War Possible In Iraq [View All]

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Reuters reports that as the US struggles to find a formula to return sovereignty to Iraq, officials are worried about the potential for civil war in a country marked by religious and ethnic tensions. Although US officials in Iraq say that a civil war would be unlikely with 123,000 US troops in the country, they are still wary because of the history of mutual grievances between Sunni and Shiite Muslims and Kurds. Reuters says a "traumatic event" could trigger such an occurance, such as the assassination of a major religious political leader by another faction. Or, as Brookings Institution defense analyst Michael O'Hanlon points out, the chances of civil war may rise once US troops are gone.

"In the longer term, you have the very distinct possibility of the militias of the different ethnic groups being the most powerful military forces in Iraq. And if the national army doesn't hold together or doesn't turn out to be very powerful, you could have a situation where when we try to pull out in five years you see civil warfare at that point," O'Hanlon said.

Knight-Ridder reports that whispers of "revolution" are growing louder in Baghdad this month at teahouses, public protests and tribal meetings. Iraqi's look back to 1920, when they rebelled against British rule. Knight-Ridder says many believe the situation in the country now is similar to the situation 84 years ago: unpopular foreign occupiers, unelected governing bodies and unhappy residents eager for self-determination. Many Shiites are looking to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani for guidance.

"If Sistani called for revolution, I would sacrifice my life for the good of my country," said Hamdiya al Niemi, a 27-year-old street vendor whose father raised her on stories of the 1920 uprising. "My father was so proud talking about that time, how we kicked out the British and how we should never allow foreigners to rule our land."

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0129/dailyUpdate.html?s=entt