So, Just How Bad Is It in Iraq? as per Christian Science Monitor
Agreed. Nationalism can only take hold when there's a functioning nation to get behind. Currently in Iraq there is none so all that's left is sectarian identity.
Right, which is why violence was the core problem. As long as local militias offered more then anyone else, namely "security" (or the illusion of it through ***-for-tat retribution) you can't make any head way in earning the peoples trust. You have to offer people more then what those locals groups offer.
SBTB said
If we leave now, that only gets worse. It will be nearly impossible for a nation to arise from the sectarian chaos especially with the outside forces encouraging the latter. If we stay it's POSSIBLE (though certainly not guaranteed) a nation could emerge which will give rise to nationalism over cultural identity.
In particular, it becomes a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. And more specifically, Saudi Arabia, because it's so afraid of Iran, will have to turn to the one group doggedly opposed to Shia and with the international structure and appeal to combat it in Iraq . . . extremist Wahhabism. Which is
exactly what we're trying to prevent. What's funny is if Obama executes his immediate withdrawal, by his own admission (whether he realizes it or not) he'll be sending troops
right back in because the re-establishment of extremist Wahhabi elements to combat the Shia is guaranteed.
I realize that they weren't present in any organized form
before the war. That's part of why I opposed the war to begin with. But they are there now and guaranteed to only establish a stronger, more organized presence later as Sunni groups in Iraq turn to them for protection. It's quite the pickle jar we put ourselves in.