British think-tank reports Iraq is on the verge of collapse; on the verge of being a failed state

[bigtree]

Thu 17 May 2007 12:23:14 BST

By Ibon Villelabeitia

BAGHDAD, May 17 (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 neighbours -- 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.

Rather that one civil war pitting majority Shi'ites against Sunnis nationwide, the paper said Iraq's "cross-cutting conflicts" were driven by power struggles between sectarian, ethnic and tribal groups with differing regional, political and ideological goals as they compete for the country's resources.

more: http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/CrisesArticle.aspx?rpc=401&storyId=B597022

[xultar]

1. Well. That's some mishun accomplished. Bush has messed up the US, Afghanistan and Irak

Who else can say they fucked up 3 sovereign nations.

Give it up people. Applaud the fucker. That's some accomplishment.

Way to go Lil boots.

[dogday]

2. We can proud as a nation that we are responsible

for this NOT........

[phoreten]

3. Google the writer of the article

All he writes about is murder and mayhem. I think he needs a vacation.

[bigtree]

6. Possibly he should take a break, but the bloody truth about the Iraq fiasco won't end

just because someone stopped reporting on it

[bigtree]

8. hey phoreten

enjoying your stay?

[uppityperson]

9. !

search is instructive.

[uppityperson]

10. Indeed, where are all those articles about the GOOD things happening in Iraq

I mean, really. You'd think the author had nothing to do but bash.


:sarcasm:

[genie_weenie]

4. Iraq was always a failed state but

if a central authority is strong enough (re: brutual) they can usually keep people in line. However, along comes an ignorant foreign regime, who understands nothing of the cultural dynamics, nor of history and sees it as a ripe peach and a way to galvanize it's control of it's people and viola!

[malaise]

5. Saw this on BBC this morning

meanwhile Blair continues to spew more bullshit.

[bigtree]

7. all eyes on Brown . . .

meet the new boss . . . ?

[Strelnikov_]

11. Linky to the paper cited

Accepting Realities in Iraq
by Dr Gareth Stansfield

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