Phebe Marr
Phebe Marr
Phebe Marris a prominent American historian of modern Iraq with the Middle East Institute...
exit leaders pull recognize strategy talk
Most of Iraq's leaders recognize that if the US were to pull out precipitously, things could get much worse. All the talk about the US getting out, an exit strategy and so forth, has them worried. It's having an impact.
begin best both democratic inside iraqis law move occupies opportunity outside political prevent processes provide short system term toward
If the U.S. occupies Iraq, it will have the best opportunity in the short term to provide both law and order, prevent retribution and begin the processes by which Iraqis inside and outside can refashion their political system and move toward democratic reforms.
central creating effective failure great provide require until
All of this is creating great, great decentralization and a failure to provide services. Until they get a real central government, they're not going to provide any effective central authority. This is going to require some time, a long time.
direction ethnic identities potential root taking
We can all see the ethnic and sectarian identities taking root and growing, with the real potential for dismemberment that this direction implies,