Reuters: "Iraq is on the Verge of Collapse"

[npincus]

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSKIM74750720070517?feedType=RSS&rpc=22

HECKUVA job, Chimp.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's government has lost control of vast areas to powerful local factions and the country is on the verge of collapse and fragmentation, a leading British think-tank said on Thursday.

Chatham House also said there was not one civil war in Iraq, but "several civil wars" between rival communities, and accused Iraq's main neighbors -- Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey -- of having reasons "for seeing the instability there continue."

"It can be argued that Iraq is on the verge of being a failed state which faces the distinct possibility of collapse and fragmentation," it said in a report.

"The Iraqi government is not able to exert authority evenly or effectively over the country. Across huge swathes of territory, it is largely irrelevant in terms of ordering social, economic and political life."

The report also said that a U.S.-backed security crackdown in Baghdad launched in February has failed to reduce overall violence across the country, as insurgent groups have just shifted their activities outside the capital.

[Bluebear]

1. Mission Accomplished! Bring em on!

Idiot.

[Larkspur]

2. So the surge worked to further fragment the Iraqis?

If Iraq becomes a failed state, how long are our leaders going to be willing to sacrifice our solders and National Guard to that hell hole?

[bdamomma]

4. it wasn't a "hell hole" until we invaded the country.

that article mentioned Saudi Arabia could they be stirring the pot also, for our troops to stay there longer.


"Chatham House also said there was not one civil war in Iraq, but "several civil wars" between rival communities, and accused Iraq's main neighbors -- Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey -- of having reasons "for seeing the instability there continue."


plus these countries do not want this stuff going on in their own country. What do you guys think?

[Beer Snob-50]

5. this stuff won't happen in their countries

because they understand what factions to stomp down. our leaders have no f***ing idea the dynamics of the middle east.

[bdamomma]

8. no idea and no plan.

[krkaufman]

16. Until January 2009, at a minimum. Bush and the Republicans ...

... won't admit failure before the 2008 election, and the media won't press them on it.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. "Let Freedom Reign!"

[Kurovski]

6. K&R. (nt)

[kestrel91316]

7. Well, there's another "Mission Accomplished"!!! Way to go, Bushie!

[Enrique]

9. this will be Bush's chance to really shine

see, he hasn't been challenged enough yet. Like a little kid who's too smart for school.

[ananda]

10. I guess this means that..

.. Bush is still a 100% success at being a failure.

[dogday]

11. Collapse is not a benchmark, right?

So they are not meeting these so-called benchmarks when they can't even protect one small tiny bit of land in Iraq.... This war was run by a blind, death and dumb guy....

[sellitman]

12. I didn't need a headline to figure this out

But maybe the last 28% does?

:eyes:

[blueworld]

13. And Bonehead wants to wait until Sept to evaluate the surge

No wonder * & Bliar are so sentimental & self-satisfied after all they've accomplished together. :toast:

[snappyturtle]

14. I don't think this is news to us.

Time to leave Iraq. Time to let what's happening continue to its end. The shame of it all. We did this. The puppet government we set up is now making deals with Iran to pipe the oil to Iran and for Iran to build refineries in Iraq. It's the Shites of Iraq/Iran vs. the Sunnis of Saudia Arabia...imho. Heck of a job * ; you've distabilized the entire ME.

[tblue37]

15. What verge? Seems that mission has long since been accomplished. (eom)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. Verge? Sorta like saying that Jerry Falwell is "near" death.

[Babel_17]

18. Here's a link to the .pdf document ....

the article is based on.

http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/pdf/research/mep/BPIraq0507.pdf

http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/index.php?id=189&pid=397

http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/

Dr Stansfield says: ‘The coming year will be pivotal for Iraq. The internecine fighting and continual struggle for power threatens the nation’s very existence in its current form. An acceptance of the realities on the ground in Iraq and a fundamental rethinking of strategy by coalition powers are vital if there is to be any chance of future political stability in the country.’

Note to editors:

Accepting Realities in Iraq, is a new Briefing Paper written by Dr Gareth Stansfield and published on Thursday 16 May by Chatham House.

Gareth Stansfield is an Associate Fellow of the Middle East Programme at Chatham House, and Associate Professor in Middle East Politics at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter. He has recently published Iraq: People, History, Politics (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2007), and is co-editor (with Reidar Visser) of An Iraq of its Regions: Cornerstone of a Federal Democracy? (London and New York: Hurst & Co. and Columbia University Press, forthcoming, September 2007).

[tabasco]

19. Everything going according to plans.

The only oil flowing out of Iraq is being stolen by BushCo allies.