Iraq Civil War could spark a larger regional war

[Selatius]

AMMAN, Jordan - Any all-out civil war in Iraq could shake the political foundations of places beyond that stricken land, sending streams of refugees across Iraqi borders, tempting neighbors to intervene, and renewing the half-buried old conflict of Sunni and Shiite in the Muslim world, Middle East analysts say.

"If it's a war between Sunni and Shiite, this war might be extended from Lebanon to Afghanistan," says Diaa Rashwan, an Egyptian expert on Islamic militancy.

In a series of Associated Press interviews, other regional specialists didn't foresee such falling dominoes — open war between Islam's two branches spreading elsewhere from Iraq. But they believe regional tensions have already sharpened because of the rise of Iraqi Shiites to power under U.S. military occupation.

This "really changes the power structure in the Middle East, not only in Iraq, but in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia," said longtime U.S. Mideast scholar William R. Polk, referring to two other Arab lands with fragile religious divides.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051026/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_shock_waves

If the 20th century truly began on July 28, 1914, the start of World War I, then I believe March 20, 2003, the start of the invasion of Iraq, is the beginning of the 21st century. It will change the course of history for the remainder of this century.

[Botany]

1. Mission Accomplished

Damn * and his group of thugs.

[TomClash]

2. And if this scenario arises . . .

. . . who benefits?

[Selatius]

5. Who makes the bombs and gets the money?

Imagine the billions that could be made arming one side and the other and letting them have at it. If you built weapons for a career, you could end up retiring wealthier beyond any imagination.

[UndergroundRadical]

6. It wouldn't suprise me if Cheney owns stock....

in some of the larger firearms manufacturers. It wouldn't suprise me. He's already got enough of his money spread out all over the place. He's a corporate whore. He's got his economic legs spread from one end of the spectrum to the other.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Somehow I'm not surprised.

Everything going according to plan, W?

[Mythsaje]

4. Don't ask him...

He can't plan a trip to the bathroom. Ask Darth Cheney or one of the actual brains behind this.