Could Iraq be divided into a federation of 6 states? Why not I say. Each region of Iraq have differing views on things. The only potential problem with it is that it could quickly descend into civil war if the federal government of Iraq didn't have enough control over the country initially. It could solve a lot of the issues they are facing now with some of the leaders in regions feeling excluded from the process and getting all pissed and encouraging violence.
World Tribune
The United States has been quietly mulling the prospect that Iraq would break up into autonomous regions.
The Council on Foreign Relations, which usually reflects State Department thinking, has recommended the restructuring of Iraq into six states under a single national government. The council, in a report entitled "Power-Sharing in Iraq," warned that even with elections an Iraq led by a strong central government might not be democratic.
Tipped by: Say Anything (via Huffington Post), where Rob notes they also mention a US troop pullout in 2007.
Under the Ottoman the territory presently making up the state of Iraq was three separate provinces: Mosul province (Kurds), Baghdad province (Sunni Arabs), and Basrah province (Shi'a Arabs). Saddam's economic and forced re-settling policies complicated things quite a bit but the ethnic and cultural identities of the three provinces have come down to this.
Posted by: Dave Schuler on May 18, 2005 09:25 AM
