SPONSORED BY:

The Sunni Civil War

 

Email To A Friend

Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link.

Separate multiple addresses with commas

SPONSORED BY
 

At least the tribals and the politicians are arguing over political representation, rather than shooting at each other like the Sunnis of Arab Jabour. But that could change if there's no political progress. Sunni politicians are wary of compromising on matters like the release of Sunni prisoners and amnesty for former Baathists, lest they be painted as sellouts by their Sunni rivals. Shiite leaders aren't above playing one Sunni camp off another; last week Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki tried to appoint an Anbar tribal loyalist to a cabinet seat that had been slated for someone from the mainstream Sunni parties. "Everybody is betting on violence to sort everything out. That psychology has to be changed," says Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi. The last thing Iraq needs is another civil war.

With Silvia Spring in Arab Jabour

© 2007

Label

Newsweek Top Stories
Visions of a Decade
Visions of a Decade

From 2000-2009, one photo per month.

The Failure of Copenhagen
The Failure of Copenhagen

Why there could be a silver lining in a failed climate treaty.

Sex Scandals of the 2000s
Sex Scandals of the 2000s

From John Edwards to Mark Sanford, the decade's memorable affairs.

118 Days in Hell
118 Days in Hell

A NEWSWEEK journalist recounts his captivity in Iran.

Discuss

Sponsored by

Member Comments

  • Posted By: rhusa1 @ 12/18/2007 5:46:41 PM

    This kind of scam media articles were a dime a dozen coming out of Vietnam. The general's claimed to see light at the end of the tunnel and the US terrorist media hurreied to report freedom, democracy and light ahead. What is and was ahead in both Vietnam and Iraq is more death, more destruction and more money. It is only when the US is out and the real govt of Iraq settles in place just like the Vietnamese govt we will again have diplomatic relations as we do with Vietnam.

    Was it worth killing 50K and Injuring 500K along with 2 million innocent Vietnamese dead and more injured?



    Or in the classic words of Pres Clinton

    "IT'S THE OCCUPATION STUPID"

    ra

  • Posted By: ogobeone @ 12/15/2007 5:57:50 PM

    I think that Iraq needs frequently scheduled elections, because this article clearly points to a lot of grievances, but a lot of changing ones. The councils and legislatures should reflect the current "times". It's one of the best ways to relieve the anger and make people feel represented. I would suggest an election every year for ten years. For instance, the "Islamic Party" mentioned in the article might be losing support. Also, authorities should not be afraid of allowing marginal parties to run, even if they seem extremist.

  • Posted By: isaidit @ 12/13/2007 3:21:46 PM

    I'll lay off the sarcasm this time and come out with it. This vague and rapidly disintegrating idea called America lacks the unity, will, and men to take on a culture such as this one. The most talented and capable men of this country are not fighting and will not fight. The multiculturist movement has destroyed any hope of unity of the American people or loyalty to the nation, and the feminist movement with it's successful and catastrophic attack on the nuclear family has succeeded in deweaponizing American (and most western) men. In effect, through encouragement of nihilistic dissent and defiance, ivory tower leftists of the 1960's disarmed our nation. All we can do now is promise high-tech, at-a- distance war to whoever we can lure into our miliatary with promises of cash bonuses and steady pay. And even that leads to a shortfall that must be filled in with mercenaries and noncitizens. The gig is up. We are 5th century AD Rome. We are too demoralized and divided to defeat any culture that was wise enough to steer and channel it's citizens' energy in a state mandated direction. The smartest and most capable American men only want to become wealthy, and would never charge headlong into the fray to fight and die for the idea of American freedom. They have, after all, been "freed" from these responsibilities.

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse

My Take

Customize the NEWSWEEK homepage
to feature your favorite columnists.

Customize Now