Absent a strong charismatic leader the synthetic nation of Iraq will and is devolving into three natural constituencies.
These are the Kurdish north, the Sunni in between and the Shia south.
Released from the false collective imposed by the British after WW I they are getting their longed for freedom and independence.
The pundits are arguing the Bush efforts were for nothing. Actually, the Bush efforts were to tame and then depose Saddam Hussein. W conquored Baghdad and deposed Saddam.
The nation building effort is evolving into three rather than one state. Time will tell if the three entities can exist on their own as economically viable members of the world society. Free from the tribal and religious tensions they very well may.
I believe the founding of an Islamic state that weakens or deposes Assad will be good. It may soak up all the wackos into one place where they can attempt to found a new wacko islamic state
The problem seems to be that Core AQ has lost control.
Fixed it.