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Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:49 AM Jun 2014

Can someone please explain why we didn't insist on a unity government

in Iraq years ago? Surely it wasn't just one person who was against it.

#totallyridiculous

cnn

Secretary of State John Kerry says while he is "not taking anything I hear to the bank," he has received indications from Iraq's leaders that "there is a capacity to have a new government that could be a unity government that could reflect a greater capacity for success."


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Can someone please explain why we didn't insist on a unity government (Original Post) Laura PourMeADrink Jun 2014 OP
Maliki would'nt allow it sharp_stick Jun 2014 #1
exactly - 1 person Laura PourMeADrink Jun 2014 #4
Because it would have meant staying there until it works? DetlefK Jun 2014 #2
I am talking about early on. We were there Laura PourMeADrink Jun 2014 #5
I have doubts. DetlefK Jun 2014 #7
Totally disagree - but that's ok. nt Laura PourMeADrink Jun 2014 #8
Iraq is an artificial country with randomly drawn borders. dawg Jun 2014 #3
yep - but you are right - it wouldn't have been easy Laura PourMeADrink Jun 2014 #6

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
2. Because it would have meant staying there until it works?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:59 AM
Jun 2014

And the Iraqis as well as the US wanted to find a way out.

The Kurds trying on secession.
The Shiites trying to exact revenge for past discrimination/violence.
The Sunni trying to defend themselves form future discrimination/violence.

Without a common goal, no way they're gonna work together.

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
7. I have doubts.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:18 AM
Jun 2014

"Hey, you unemployed disgruntled ex-soldiers! Hey, Sadr's militia! Why won't you stop attacking us and each other and work together instead?"

There was too much bloodlust in the early days to work something out. And later on, the mistakes were already made.

dawg

(10,595 posts)
3. Iraq is an artificial country with randomly drawn borders.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:06 AM
Jun 2014

This is the same sort of thing that has led to so much needless bloodshed in parts of Africa. I suspect a loose three-state federation, with proportional sharing of oil revenues, would work much better than the current setup.

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
6. yep - but you are right - it wouldn't have been easy
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:16 AM
Jun 2014

but just think how much smarter it would have been to do this as a peace initiative at the very start. Before the thrill of Saddam being gone had faded.

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