Reply #60: The predictions could be wrong

[mobuto]

and Iraqis might suddenly recognize the commonality of their shared experiences and live in bliss for all eternity.

But the more likely scenario is a bloody civil war, with the prospect of ethnic cleansing and even genocide.

We can't risk it.

Whether or not this position can be justified is one of the questions; iyt certainly isn't justified in your post, but rather presents itself as an axiom. And I believe you meant the "Coalition," rather than the US, yes? ;-)

No, that's simply my contention. The "Coalition," to the extent that it exists, is really irrevelent (with all due respect to the Solomon Islands). What's required is decisive action by the United States with the unconditional backing of the United Nations, NATO and the Arab League. Its my belief that a federal state is the only "free" society possible for Iraq that preserves its territorial integrity. Replacing Saddam's autocracy with another isn't a solution. If you have another hypothesis, I'd like to hear it.

I also did point out the problem for the ethnic minorities by mentioning the ethnic Chinese in southern urban areas, who traditionally served as a merchant class within Vietnamese society
I saw that and I just added that other ethnic and religious minorities also faced discrimination. Ethnic Vietnamese Catholics, for example, did not fair so well as might have been hoped. But whereas in Vietnam the population was still largely homogenous - Iraq's isn't.