"The Uncertainty of Iraq's Transition"

[nosmokes]

i can't edit worth a damn, but i highly recommend these reading these articles from PINR. they give you a really clear and concise report of complex situations. a really great tool for me, anyhow.
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"The Uncertainty of Iraq's Transition"
Drafted by Dr. Michael A. Weinstein on July 26, 2004
http://www.pinr.com

The form of a future Iraqi state is uncertain primarily because of the conflicting aspirations of the three major political communities in that country. The majority Shi'a will be satisfied only if they play the dominant role in the new Iraq, the Kurds are determined to hold on to the autonomy they have gained since the end of the 1991 Gulf War, and the Sunni Arabs are struggling to regain the power that they had before the fall of Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime.

The ways in which the three communities move to fulfill their aspirations will be the major determinants of whether Iraq becomes a strong federation, a weak confederation or a set of mini-states. Which sides will bargain for compromise and at what points, and which sides will draw bright lines in the sand and where is as yet unclear. That basic uncertainty is compounded by resource issues and external powers with interests in the country.
~snip~
much more at
http://www.pinr.com


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