A brief overview of the History of Iraq
|
Exit
Strategy for Iraq
That said, and before I commence, let me state that I personally do not believe that the United States has any intention of leaving Iraq. From being here, I can tell you how they are building up bases, making more permanent structures, paving roads, and constantly endeavoring to improve the lives of troops stationed here. The following essay is simply an idea I have for the removal of American troops from Iraq…if that is what the Administration genuinely desires. The history of Iraq as we know it today is only a few generations old. The State of Iraq was carved out of the Ottoman Empire by the League of Nations directly after World War I as one of the spoils for the British. Therefore, there are no long ties or emotions to Iraq being a country as it is now. The Iraqi people are very much diversified and do not feel the same patriotic sentiment that Americans experience. Since the Babylonia Empire, different countries and empires have ruled this region. The Persians, Greeks, Romans, Ottomans, and most recently, the British, have been the rulers of this area. However, in real life, the people here are truly governed by local sheiks, religious leaders, local businessmen, but mostly by tribal and family elders. There is no history of government unity. They simply don't have the same idea of government as we do, nor do they care to for the most part. In Iraq, there are three main factions. The Shiites make up the vast majority and mostly inhabit the Southern regions of Iraq. The Sunnis are next, and although much less in number, they hold the power, wealth and influence. They are densely populated in and around Baghdad and throughout Central Iraq. Finally, in the North are the Kurds. They are not Arabs and align themselves closer to Turkey than Iraq. They are all Muslim, but vary greatly. For centuries these three groups have struggled against one and another for power. These age-old arguments are still raging today in our current efforts to give them a Constitution. Issues such as women's rights, percentage of rule, and distribution of wealth, mostly from the oil, are issues deep at the heart of the different factions and they simply refuse to agree. Therefore, I suggest that we split the country into three parts, making each one-third a separate sovereignty with its own rule and autonomous government. As I said earlier in this essay, there are no deeply held ideologies here that Iraq should be one country. That said, I want to make the point that I am under no illusions that this plan will bring peace to Iraq. These battles have been waging for centuries and they will continue. The Sunnis would soon dispute the borders, the Kurds would want more oil revenue, and issues of personal freedom, the woman's role in society and government, and others would once again raise their ugly head. I have spoken to many educated, articulate, and politically-minded Iraqis about this solution and they all agree that in the long term, it will not work. When I have asked them what will work they all answer the same…a Civil War must be fought here. My plan would not bring peace, but it would be the right thing for us to do, as well as give us the window to leave Iraq. These people would have a fresh start and the road they travel down in the future would be in their hands. America would have done what it intended from the start. We have taken down the terrible dictatorship, we have given the Iraqis peace, (if only temporary) we have given them freedom and a constitution. Our work would be finished and we can leave satisfied with a job well done and as successful to the rest of the world. In this part of the world, as in many others, leadership has always simply come down to who has the biggest stick. That is the way it will be again, a Civil War here is inevitable. We should leave and let it happen, knowing we did the best that could have been done. Sergeant
S.W. Foster
|
