I caught Schummer on Imus this morning. Here we are, a week before an historic election of a unified Iraq -- and Schummer is saying HIS plan is to abandon the attempt, and instead make three autonomous regions in Iraq, one for the Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites.
The problems with that solution are many. Turkey will never allow an "indepdendent" Kurdistan. If the Shiites were left to their own devices, they would likely become an Iranian-like state. The Sunnis wouldn't accept it, because over time the other two regions would grow powerful and would renege on thier oil deal (the sunnis don't have much oil).
Eventually the north or south would grow strong enough to fight a war to "unify" the country again, much like happens around the world when countries are arbitrarily broken up.
Of course, the constitution of Iraq already offers a bit of autonomy, and a somewhat "federalized" system. But it seems a curious time to call the existing plan a failure -- it's almost like Schummer hopes to encourage the minority in Iraq who don't like the current constitution to not show up for the election.
Last year we came within one state of having Schummer, and his ilk, run foreign policy.
It still gives me chills.
If the Shiites were left to their own devices, they would likely become an Iranian-like state.
I don't think so. Remember there is a longstanding thought in Shia Islam for the seperation of Mosque and State (for obvious reasons), the Mullahs in Tehran are in the minority of Shia religous/political thought.
I agree with you about the Kurds and Turkey.