What is the best strategy in the war in Iraq and the overall war on terror?
Thursday, June 10th, 2010
Rob S asked:
I think the war in Iraq is progressing nicely toward the new Shiite government replacing Saddam’s brutal regime with a similar regime dominating the Sunni minority and tolerating the Kurds at least in the near term. It seems like the Shiite government is positioned to take control of most of the country in a timely fashion. The predominantly Sunni areas will remain disputed and require external assistance to prevent them from fortifying against the Iraqi government. If we leave them alone then there will be a civil war and the Sunnis will lose, leaving Iraq to pair itself alongside Iran and I think to join them as a sponsor of terror. Also, if we leave, then Saudi Arabia and other predominantly Sunni Arab countries will support the Sunni insurgents and drag out the Civil War, inflaming Sunni-Shiite tensions in the Arab world.
I think the war in Iraq is progressing nicely toward the new Shiite government replacing Saddam’s brutal regime with a similar regime dominating the Sunni minority and tolerating the Kurds at least in the near term. It seems like the Shiite government is positioned to take control of most of the country in a timely fashion. The predominantly Sunni areas will remain disputed and require external assistance to prevent them from fortifying against the Iraqi government. If we leave them alone then there will be a civil war and the Sunnis will lose, leaving Iraq to pair itself alongside Iran and I think to join them as a sponsor of terror. Also, if we leave, then Saudi Arabia and other predominantly Sunni Arab countries will support the Sunni insurgents and drag out the Civil War, inflaming Sunni-Shiite tensions in the Arab world.
I think someone has to support Iraq to prevent this from happening? Unless we think we’d be better off with a Middle East at war with itself?
Ben Ross
