[Ferd]

Originally Posted by tstew

Dt. that region is a powder keg. Most American have no concept of tribalism and sectarian feelings. If you think that Iraq is a nation of one people who are going to rise up together and forget about that whole little Sunni Shiite thing because we come bearing democracy, you are just as misled as some of our policy makers.
We have upset the apple cart and we were banking on national patriotism overriding the centuries of sectarian history. A "new" country like America that was founded as a republic and thinks along those lines will never understand this. What works for us and countries like us, work because it matches well with how our society was structured from the beginning.
This whole concept that we will give them the opportunity to "rise up" and become like us is what is naive. We are dealing with issues that are ten times as old as our nation.

i think we are banking on the ideals of freedom and democracy. NOT nationalism.

I do agree that part of the neo-conserivitive view ie "rise up" thing was off. that doesnt mean we just cut and run. we leave and the whole area destablizes and Iran controls everything.

not a solid option.