What would happen if Iraq were divided into three countries?
445133
interesting idea but their are already territory disputes happening between the groups because of where the oil is located. i think it makes more sense to get people to work out their differences without resorting to violence
1137393
we will have 2 nations if 2 presidents are elected to office at the same time. The political force will be separated and there will be another civil war if the animosity between the 2 parties goes too far.
116294
Absolutely, Peace and Democracy will happen in Iraq. I have a source you can look at to see the progress and great things that happen in Iraq that the mainstream media doesn’t tell you about.
103218
It will become the 51st state, the name will be changed to bushland in honer of the man that freed it from tyrenie, the oil companys will benifit from the laws and decisions of the freely elected govener who by chance ran against his own party. I can't think of anything else. Maybe after we pull out and the civil war happens they will be run by a dictator and develop into a powerful nuclear country.
835088
No, we won't attack either of them.  We'd win a war against either country, but it would degenerate into a hell of a mess after that.  Kind of like what we're seeing in Iraq right now.
781028
Interesting question... both are awful choices. I'm not sure what the point of the question is (nobody would seriously propose either), but I'll play along.\n\nEither outcome would lead to mass regional destabilization, though the Israeli option would probably be better since they would turn it back over within five years. The splitting option would push Turkey and Saudi Arabia into civil wars, and an Iranian chokehold on that much oil would be bad for the world economy.\n\nThe best completely unrealistic option, though, is to turn over Iraq to the Finns. If they won't take it, I'm sure the Russians or the Chinese will.
932378
Unfortunately I don't think we'll be able to keep Iraq together now that sectarian violence has taken over the country. Iran is clearly helping the Shiite militias with resources as they are supporting Hezbolla in Lebanon. Like it or not we should be talking with the Iranians about this and other things. However even Sadr has lost control of the militias. There's just an ineveitable bottom that has to be hit before this thing wears out. I remember a similar situation in South Viet Nam. The South was corrupt and it's army unable to stand up to the North. As soon as we left it all fell apart. Iraq was a creation of the west. Rival ethnic groups held down by a merciless dictator. Bush and his advisors completely underestimated the divisons in that country. Sadam was like a cork in the bottle. Maybe an international force of non-western nations might be able to restore order but it would take hundreds of thousands more than we have there now. The current prime minister has to go and the interior ministry needs to be purged of the criminals and assassins using their positions to carry out personal vendettas. Twice in my lifetime the bright boys in Washington have tried this and twice they've failed. My Dick Cheney and his like will finally stop trying to refight the Viet Nam war.
864211
I don't have a clue.  It should have been left alone.  Saddam Hussein was a cruel leader but his heavy hand is what kept that country together.  Now it is descending into civil war and nobody knows what is going to be the final outcome.  They will just have to fight it out among themselves.
148410
I think there's little doubt about that.  The only reason the country was stable for so long was Saddam Hussein.  Oppresive dictatorship is a highly effective way to hold together a country that should be torn appart by different factions all vying for control.  Iraq is made up primarily of three groups: the Shi'it Muslims, the Sunni Muslims, and the Kurds.  If I remember correctly, the Sunni's have most of the money, but most of the population is Shi'it (I may have reversed the two, though), and neither group is too fond of the Kurds.  Under Saddam, you had the wealthy elite repressing the both other groups.  Now it's revenge time.  No way it's going to be stable.  Besides which anyone who's actually elected president by any kind of majority vote we're going to through out as too religious and too anti-American (guess what, they don't like us very much).
1057437
No.It would collapse.The country was so locked down for so long it is going to take some time for them all to figure out how to get along without killing each other.
106571
Good god NO. If we attack Iran Syria will invade Iraq and our troops there will be flanked from the east and the west, not to mention what other Arab countries would jump in. Our troops in Iraq would get slaughtered.
128807
Not for years.  The governments of too many surrounding countries have far too much to loose if Iraq becomes a stable democratic state so they will continue to fund and encourage the "insurgents".  However, the violence should lessen as the new government gets organized and the USA starts pulling out.
677178
true..... but if there were 3 separate nations, then they would just be three separate nations always at war instead of three separate sects at civil war.
749371
Erudite....Your question is based on a false premise. Have a little faith.\n\nThis whole area has been chaotic for centuries - we have only be there for a few years and our accomplishments have been pretty impressive. The vast majority of key players who ascribe to this radical faction of hatred have been captured or killed and a free election has been held. The Iraqi militia continues to train and grow and participate in many of the operations to rid this country of these Islamic factions that continue their tactics of terror and murder.\nHopefully, a democratic country in this region will help stabilize and secure this powder keg so the people can live in peace with a government that answers to them - instead of the other way around. \n\nIf only the media would be genuine in their "fair and balanced" reporting, perhaps our optimism would be a little improved.
584329
You mean turn iraq into kurdistan or create it?  i think iran and turkey would attack it instantly
547110
Iraq is pretty big.  I'm pretty sure they have more than just 5 cities.
525034
our troops will stop dying for that particular cause and Iraq will probably revert to a war torn arena that is governed by warlords and/or different religious factions until the most powerful one is able to take control, which will probably/definitely be another Saddam.... then you will have another situation unlike the previous and we can start all over, probably with a US leader that will not invade but will allow a military buildup and then we can just let them invade us..... after all, the only thing most (not all but most) of the governments in that part of the world want is the complete destruction of the west.... which includes us and anyone that is on our side................. so while no one wants what we have there now.... the choice is finish it and get out or get out and let them finish us............... our choice.