Split Iraq for the sake of its population

Submitted by Daniel Braunschvig (Israel), Apr 23, 2003 at 15:33

The violence and looting witnessed in Iraq is proof that the country is nothing but an artificial concoction.
The lethal "uneasy mix of Arabs and Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites, urbanites and tribal members, plus other divisions" calls for a humane but radical solution.
1. Split Iraq into 3 entities: Kurds in the north, Sunnis in the center, Shiities in the south.
2. Prevent Turkey from invading the new Kurdish state and facilitate immigration of Kurds to that state.
3. Prevent Syria and Iran from supporting terror groups in the new states so that they do not become a new Lebanon.
4. Provide each with relatively equal access to oil or oil revenues.
5. Support their reconstruction effort with education, democratic institutions, training in management and capital.
6. All contracts between the former regime and different states should be published and renegotiated.

If this can be implemented in a contolled, unhurried manner over time, with genuine and positive concern of the West, there is a fair chance that from the horrors of Saddam Hussein's murderous dictatorship a set of democracies can emerge.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".