Civil war, not terrorists, greatest danger in Iraq

Christian Science Monitor ^ | October 7, 2005 at 11:30 a.m. | Tom Regan

[Tulsa Ramjet]

US generals, Iraqi journalists say civil strife is Iraq's greatest threat.

By Tom Regan | csmonitor.com

The day after President Bush gave a major speech outlining "the battle of the 21st century" against terrorism, questions still exist in Iraq about what constitutes the greatest danger to the country. While Mr. Bush stated that terrorism was the greatest danger faced by Iraqis, US military generals and many Iraqis say the threat of civil war (some Iraqi officials believe a civil war has already started, but is just not being talked about) poses a much greater risk. In its Oct. 10 issue, Newsweek reports on the situation in Iraq. Hopes of a "strong, unified, pluralistic Iraq" no longer exist – the possibilities are now a very loose federation, or violent disintegration." Newsweek reports that while US officials believe most Iraqis are resisting calls to take up arms against other ethnic or religious groups, there is also "a settling of accounts and a splitting apart of communities that [once] did business together."

Sunni insurgents, trying to prevent political dominance by the Shiite majority, are killing them in great numbers. Shiite militia and death squads are resisting. Now many ordinary citizens who are caught in the middle aren't waiting to become victims. They're moving to safer areas, creating trickles of internal refugees. "There is an undeclared civil war," Hussein Ali Kamal, head of intelligence at the Ministry of Interior, told Newsweek.

Reuters reported earlier this week that Gen. George Casey, the US commander in Iraq, remains "optimistic that Iraqis do not want the country to collapse into civil war." But The Washington Post reports that Gen. Casey also said he was worried that the political process, represented by next week's vote on the Iraqi constitution, is headed in the wrong direction.

[Tulsa Ramjet]

Civil war seems the likely result. Regardless of what we would like to occur. You have two major competing religious groups that has a couple generations of people that hate each other. And neighboring states willing to offer arms to to determine who gets control of the oi. At least with a Constitution, people can point to something that should be the foundations for decision-making, like Lincoln did during the Civil War here. Nobody said it was going to be easy.

[Jeff Head]

Since the various terrorist organizations have the goal of formenting a civil war so they can avoid any kind of constitutional republic or free state, and fill the resulting vaccum and chaos with their own flavor of totalitarianism, the terrorist organizations remain the major threat.

[don'tbedenied]

So the mighty insurgents aren't much of a threat? The MSM is changing the story, Bush is still an idiot its just the reason that's changed.
This is really frustrating, no matter what happens the news is bad and we're doomed and Bush is a monkey.
An election will occur in a few days, it'll probably go well and the MSM will be shocked. But a few days later they'll be back to Bushchimp hitler and the daily car bomb story.
Iraq will never be Switzerland but if we get a viable democracy out of this it will be wonderful news.

[Tulsa Ramjet]

"who gets control of the oi"

that is..."oil"

[Tulsa Ramjet]

"but if we get a viable democracy out of this it will be wonderful news."

and our fingers are crossed.

[Nathan Zachary]

My thoughts as well. What does this journalist think these terrorists are trying to start? Sheesh! Next to terrorists, Democrats and the lunatic left running around demanding we get out are the next dangerous threat in Iraq, and ultimately the west, plus they empower the terrorists. Some would say they are a worse threat than terrorists.

[tonycavanagh]

I agree but it wont be two sided, but multi sided, you have the Sunni and Shiite and Kurds, but then there are splinters within these groups, as well as former baathist and criminal gangs all with there own agenda.

[Jeff Head]

The enemy withing the gates...well inside the perimeter...is always the most dangerous threat.

[Tulsa Ramjet]

"and Kurds"

but they may decided to sit it out as long as they have their area to the north. They would then look like the rational group and have a heavier, and substantial hand, in the aftermath internationally.

[L98Fiero]

"Civil war, not terrorists, greatest danger in Iraq"

Who, in their right mind, thinks these two are in any way explusive of each other. They go together like beans and rice.

[Tulsa Ramjet]

"They go together like beans and rice."

...or dates and eggplant. You were thinking Venezuela.

[L98Fiero]

"...or dates and eggplant. You were thinking Venezuela."

LOL. Beans and Rice. It's a Southern thing. ;)