Counterpunch: How the US Occupation Led to Civil War

[Judi Lynn]

March 14, 2006

How the US Occupation Led to Civil War
Divide and Rule Goes Awry in Iraq
By KEVIN ZEESE

Inherent in the policy of Iraqization is the traditional strategy of an occupier--divide and rule--as it means some Iraqi collaborators will be put in the employ of the occupier in an effort to control other Iraqis. Thus, Iraqization naturally means turning Iraqis against each other. And, having Iraqis fighting between themselves--rather than uniting in opposition to the occupation of Iraq--benefits the United States.

'Divide and rule' seems to be central to the U.S. strategy to controlling Iraq. The U.S. has used this strategy in other conflicts, and the closest ally of the United States perfected 'divide and rule' during its history as a colonial power. The British typically played one tribe or ethnic group against another to maintain control of their colonies with a minimal number of British troops. For example, the British used 'divide and rule' strategies to gain control over India, keeping its people divided along lines of religion, language, and caste. The divisions created or enhanced by Great Britain still cause problems in some of its former colonies.

Indeed, in the 1920 Mandate of Iraq, the British worked to check the Shia majority's power by keeping Sunni Arabs in senior positions in government and the armed forces. And, created a country that had divisions, Sunni, Shia and Kurd--divisions that still exist today.

It is hard to believe that the Bush Administration did not realize the likely sectarian strife between Sunnis and Shia. Not only die Saddam Hussein check the Shia majority during his rule of Iraq, but the dispute between these two sects dates back to the death of the prophet Mohamed in 632. Sunnis are the majority sect in the Muslim world, but Shias form as much as 60% of Iraq's population, whereas Sunnis make up 35%, divided between ethnic Arabs and Kurds. This demographic dominance of the Shia has not resulted in economic and political power, until the U.S. occupation.
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http://www.counterpunch.org/zeese03142006.html

[theoldman]

1. Very few people understand the result of Brittish rule

in many parts of the world. Look how long it took India to recover. China, Israel, Iraq and Kurdistan are other examples. Lucky for us that they did not rule us very long.

[Larkspur]

2. Northern Ireland is still reeling from Brit imperial strategy

[K-W]

3. Well, we were the occupation, not the occupied

up until the point we decided to declare independence.