In theory, and in broad brush, it's certainly possible. In practice, though, getting those factions to agree and then to abide peacefully by the agreement may be a pipe dream.

I sure don't have a different solution that I think has a chance of working, but that doesn't automatically mean that partition will work. And that means that the people who have the greatest stake in perpetuating the status quo will probably get their way.

And after enough blood has been shed, that is exactly what will happen.

To force partition will create more bloodshed.

I brought this up via some talking points / analysis I heard this AM. Partition may be a de facto possibility in the region. What's your take?

In a lot of ways we are bystanders to the events, however much we would like to call some of the decisions.

a local solution, if possible.

It would seem to dissipate tensions but disputes over resources and land on newly created borders might lead to continued violence. As mentioned above, any solution good or bad cannot be imposed.

after WWI. The French and the British drew some lines, rather willy-nilly and capriciously with little regard to tribal interests but more directed toward what they thought would satisfy the major players in assisting them in defeating the German axis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partitioning_of_the_Ottoman_Empire

I can see dividing Iraq up now, BUT in a decade - maybe less - they would be at each other's throats arguing for a united Iraq much like what happened in Vietnam.

We only served as a separator for ten years or so, but it's been building all the while. We should fly over all the rest of the detainees on Guantanamo to the outskirts of Baghdad, which would eliminate another headache for us. The Christians had their civil war between sects for centuries and none got settled until enough blood was spilled to satisfy all the martyrs!

I'm trying to think of when this actually worked?

India/Pakistan?
North/South Korea?
North/South Vietnam?
North/South United States?


One might make a case for the breakup of portions of eastern Europe.
But that was a case where it was a forced union to begin with.