Will Iraq become the Balkans of the Middle East?

I know this has been discussed on numerous threads in LBN, and GD, but I think we should have a forum that considers specifically what the ramifications will be now that Hussein has been captured.

IMO the domestic political benefits for * are good...in the short term, but this thread shouldn't be construed to be a bash * thread.I'm more interested in seeing what DU'ers think will be the results.

For the record, I believe that Hussein's capture is a good thing, but now that the figurehead has been captured, a vacuum has been created.

There are a lot of well-armed Sunni, Shiite and Kurds who don't like each other very much...Tito held multiple ethnic groups together through a strong internal security system, oppresive that it was.

I see a scenario where Turks and Iranians might get involved in Iraq's internal affairs, for "security purposes"...

U.S and "Coalition Forces" are not up to the task of maintaining order on a national basis.

Also, will Hussein be tried in front of the International Court in the Hague, a court this administration refuses to recognise?

Should the U.S. re-approach the U.N. and ask that the U.N. solve this mess? Will the Europeans and Russians be forced now to commit personnel in order to "protect their interests"?

I think the temporary euphoria that will follow this event, may be over-shadowed by the increased instability in the region.

DU'ers...your thoughts?

The U.S. toppled this man from power...in effect we are now responsible for the aftermath.

I believe that the U.S. now has an obligation to handle that aftermath...

Since we told the U.N. we were going to do it without them, how do we deal with that?

Most of what I'm hearing and reading is focused on what next in terms of what has been happening - insugent attacks on Americans and supporters. This may or may not continue, but sooner or later Iraquis will have to identify themselves.