Is civil war inevitable in Iraq?
93047
It is looking more and more likely.
255658
ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE SOON... iraq is on the verge of all out civil war: shiite muslims fighting sunnis muslims within the country. situation there would be best assessed by US army intel operating within iraq.\n\nI feel it would be irresponsible, even catastrophic if US troops were to be pulled out now.
881672
That is not a civil war, it's a population control experiment by the people of Iraq. It helps reduce the overcrowding in schools.
167017
Personally, I do not have a definition for a “Civil War,” because I believe that such a thing does not exist. Now grant  it that war is an unavoidable thing on this earth, and that will probably never change. Yet, to call the deaths, torture, bombing, massacring, and hurting and capturing of innocent people “civil” is beyond me. The same to can be said about the whole notion of a “Holy War.” There is nothing holy in war at all - even if it is for a particular belief.
168596
There has never been a war where some unwanted terrible things don't happen.  These things come from both sides in a war.  People get mad and get upset about it, yet it still happens in all wars.  We do have rules that Nations are supposed to follow during times of war with each other and for the most part they are followed.  Today in Iraq we are not fighting against any Army of Iraq, only against those who are fighting in the insurgency and these are Muslim's Killing Muslim's.  Kidnapping non-combatants and holding for ranson, the terroristic threats against people's rights, Shame on you too!
696213
Unfortunately there is not definition for Civil War in any Military Dictionary in the United States, and the CIA won't say because the information is classified. Experts say that due to the level of violence, the death toll and the way the Country is splitting up, it has already reached civil war status. The death toll has exceeded that of a number of civil wars in recent history although I can't remember which ones. Other experts say that if it isn't a civil war than it is much worse because instead of just two groups fighting there is fighting between the Sunni's and Shittes, different groups of Shiites fighting each other as well as Kurds fighting the Arabs. So to answer your question, our Republican Government will never admit it's in civil war until they are out of office and can blame it on the Democrats because there is no definite definition of what classifies a Civil War. But what is clear is that it is a terrible situation that could have been avoided had we had responsible people running our Government.
862381
yes i believe a small or mayb a large section the baath ( hope i've spelled that right ) sect of iraq society will martyr saddam.\nprobably not on the scale of buddha.  but enough 2 leave a power-struggle or a vacuum in an already destabilised country.\ni think the toppling of a dictator well/may make a continuing civil war in iraq 4 decades 2 come.\nthanx gw, \nhow thoughtful and sensible, NOT!\nthe lack of consideration by 1 texan village idiot & what he'll do 2 steal oil, hasn't escaped a growing band of disgruntled westerners attention & left us thinking was it really worth it.
645534
I would say wait a while. The Kurds have a significant stake in the new Iraqi Parliament. If the return to civil rule goes well they will probably stay part of Iraq.\n\nIf Iraq dissolves into civil war with the Sunnis (who boycotted the elections) and the Shias then support the Kurds fight for autonomy. It might upset Turkey but it will also upset Iran - ultimately it is about the people not the state they are in.\n\nCountry borders are not static - with the collapse of the USSR, into separate provinces, the empires surrounding it are also fragmenting. Yugoslavia has split up and the process will continue. No matter how governments try and prevent it. Eritrea has become a success after it split off Ethiopia. If the Belgian Congo had been split up after Independence the genocides probably would not have happened.
728933
As soon as US and Allies move out, the country will enter a full scale civil war. not only ill the Muslims be slaughtering each other like there is no tommorrow, The kurds in the north along with all the civilians who moved into the area will be ethicaly cleansed. \n\nFor US to move out would be totaly irresponsible. There is a good saying 'don;t start what you can't finish'. \n\nTo answer original question, fighting will only stop between factions when Iraqi governament and Army are powerful enough to keep order. Efforts must be intensified to requit and train impartial Iraqi military force.
262358
Oh Well, this is a tough one. \n\nAlthough I would like to believe that the current Iraqi situation could sustain itself, I must be realistic in my assesment of the situation. I believe that Iraq will fall apart due to the collapse and absence of a powerful cental government. Saddam was tough, but he held the country together. I think we're gonna end up having to deal with THREE NEW Iraqi states (Northern Kurds, Central Sunnis and Southern Shiites) and I just don't like the sound of that, why deal with three when we there was only one?\n\nBesides, the Shiites in the South will most likely control the larger sum of Iraq's Oil cause that's where it's concentrated. \n\nI still believe, contrary to popular belief, that Saddam could have been dealt with differently, either through micro surgery, or through hard-core diplomacy until he crumbled on his own, this all out invasion is just costing us ridiculous ammounts of money and rubbing our global reputation in the dirt. \n\nThe world is changing, we're loosing favour with hundreds of millions of people, and I just don't want that for my country, a country that I love.
476998
No I don't. I think that would make great news fodder for them and sadly a great number of media types thrive on televised drama, but I think civil war is a remote possibility.
879478
Not likely. The U.S has made a bad thing worse. Bush is a war-monger, and as long as he's in power, war is inevitable.
700140
Even before the invasion, the consensus among Middle East experts (and, in fact, anyone with knowledge of the region) was that removing Hussein from power would result in a civil war. It was inevitable regardless of the cause (natural or by bullet). The fact the Bush was ignorant of the internal dynamics of Iraq and too intellectually lazy to care (even though is own father’s book ‘A World Transformed’ [1998] correctly described the situation) may partially explain their continuing denial of the obvious. Nevertheless, a civil war is what it is, regardless of what anyone calls it.\n\nTo answer your question, no they should not. However, facing reality and being truthful are not characteristics of this particular administration. In the end it really does not matter because no one in the world believes, or takes seriously, anything Bush or his mouthpieces say.
943590
According to the definition in American History,\nThere must be TWO separate governments.\nStrangely, the British might look at the American Revolution as a colonial civil war.\nAlso, the South might look at the American Civil War as the Southern Revolution (albeit failed).\nThe French Revolution was to the Louis XVI, possibly a Civil War, although I think he would have considered it a Revolt, at least in the beginning.\n\nThe Winners always write the History Books and Define the terms.\n\nAs for Iraq, One of my friends said this new "Two or Three Separate states" idea may carve it up like former E/W Germany, but not for the same reasons.\n\nCurrently neither government in Iraq is firmly established (Their American supported leaders or the "Insurgency"). It is under a military occupation and an ongoing state of semi-anarchy.\n\nIsrael and Palestine is much more a case for Civil War. As the Palestians have established a government that has recognition by foreign leaders and seeks independence.\n\nThe schism between Sunnis and Shi'ite Muslims dates back to the death of Mohammed and who would be his sucessor and properly interpret his message. \n\nAs I recall there were centuries of violence and opression between Christian factions (some still continue), we are fools to think we can resolve this issue for Islam. Change must be internal.\n\nWe continue to damage the country with our presence, leaving early would still damage it further. We have a moral obligation to resolve Iraq, but not the capability or ideal strategy at this time. It is a real conundrum.\n\nPersonally, I think the division is the ultimate (meaning final and inevitable, but not "best") solution. It may be 40 some years, like in the case of Germany, for them to put aside their differences, if not a day short of forever.\n\nAfter all this blood shed, no one is going to forget or forgive easily.\n\nOne IMPORTANT note: This hasn't been a horrible American War by any means. It has actually been one of the safest. LOOK AT THE DEATHS OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. If you add ALL Deaths from 9/11, casualties of war, and deaths of Iraqis it barely comes close to the American Revolution (100,000+). Or either World War.\n\nAre we chickening out? Giving up? Calling it quits?\nMaybe leaving now will save more American lives?\nMaybe it will led to more violence in Iraq?\n\nThere are no easy answers facing the nation.\n\nBut as to answer you questions, in my opinion,\n\nIraq is a sorry mess, but not a True historical Civil War.\nThat remains to be written.
859667
There will never be an end to violence in Iraq and this has nothing what so ever to do with the Troops there! They are actually making it safer at the moment whether people wish to believe it or not! Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims have hated each other for generations and will continue to attack and murder each other! Civil war brewing? Has it even ever ended properly other than the total oppression of the other side by Saddam?\n\nLets all stop winging at the troops and give them our 100% support as they do deserve it! I live in Scotland and send mail and parcels to my mates out there also now use anymarine.com to send stuff to our American allies out there too!\n\nPlease never belittle or forget their sacrifice!
252026
I fear we are on the verge of a war like none we have ever seen before. All the modern wars of the world combined into one gigantic battle is on the horizon. Nations are going to rise up against other nations who, at one point, were their allies. And within nations, groups are going to rise against other groups in unparalleled civil war. Allies will rise up to assist, only to turn on their comrades.
865932
If the Iraqi government is strong enough to fully exercise its authority across the country, civil war can be avoidable.