>>>That's your opinion. Mine is not so gloomy. I think that, if left to their own devices, the Iraqis would make an honest attempt at a unified government. But outsiders aren't going to give them the chance.
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>>Here we disagree. We could leave tomorrow and Iraq would become more chaotic, not less.
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>I suppose I should clarify - outsiders being the foreign Jihadists. Once we leave, if left to their own devices, the Iraqis would etc. In no way would I advocate pulling out until their new government and security forces can stand on their own feet.

Do you really think that's going to happen? I don't. The events of the past week demonstrated that pretty clearly. The alleged government and security forces stood by passively after the mosque bombing and retributions, sometimes actually participating in the retributions. If we pull out Iraq will quickly become Afghanistan on a larger scale, ruled by warlords. The Shiites and Sunnis are not going to suddenly become all chummy just because the U.S. is gone.