How significant is the Sunni-Shiite divide in Iraq?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.cfr.org/publication/7678/


Not as important as some press reports make it out to be, many Iraq experts say. There has been considerable intermarriage between the two groups among the urban middle class. Some Iraqi tribes have both Sunni and Shiite branches. In addition, experts say Iraqi nationalism is very important to both groups. In the most telling example of this, Sunnis and Shiites fought side by side against the British colonizers. On the other hand, there are Sunni-Shiite tensions, and some radicals on both sides preach hatred against the other group. Sectarian differences will be exacerbated if the coalition emphasizes them, experts say. "Tribal, ethnic, and sectarian {differences} may reflect local truths, but Iraqiness— incorporating all elements of society— should ultimately form the basis of national identity," Yaphe writes.

[madame defarge]

1. I suggest reading other sources for their opinion...

Example: read Riverbend's "Baghdad Burning" blog to get a sense of what she sees going on in her country on a daily basis.
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

And check out Peter Galbraith's "The End of Iraq" book; here's a link to a Daily Kos diary about his views. It will give you a sense of his opinion on the Sunni-Shiite divide in Iraq,as well as how ignorant this administration was of how different the cultures are:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/8/215257/257

[CAG]

2. Somebody should tell *, he may not understand the differences yet....

Please include lots of pictures, whoever tries to explain it to him.

[uppityperson]

3. some find the differences quite large, some not so large

some intermarry, some don't. Fundamentalists will always find a "them" to hate.