Historian says Iraq is a 3-in-1 country
The United States is learning that, in many ways, Iraq is three nations in one — just as the British and Ottoman Empire learned, a University of Utah military historian said.
Speaking to about 25 military history buffs at the Fort Douglas Military History Symposium on Saturday, U. historian John Reed said Iraq comprises the Kurd majority in the north, the Sunni majority in the so-called "Sunni triangle" in the central part of the country including Baghdad, and the Shiites in the south, with Basra as a sort of regional capital...
... Between 1922 and 2003, various leaders — all Sunnis — led a united Iraq by giving each group a lot of regional autonomy...
... A successful Iraq, Reed said, will ultimately require "someone at the center of government who acknowledges autonomy but kicks anybody's butt if they get out of line," he said.
Read entire article at Deseret News (Utah)
Speaking to about 25 military history buffs at the Fort Douglas Military History Symposium on Saturday, U. historian John Reed said Iraq comprises the Kurd majority in the north, the Sunni majority in the so-called "Sunni triangle" in the central part of the country including Baghdad, and the Shiites in the south, with Basra as a sort of regional capital...
... Between 1922 and 2003, various leaders — all Sunnis — led a united Iraq by giving each group a lot of regional autonomy...
... A successful Iraq, Reed said, will ultimately require "someone at the center of government who acknowledges autonomy but kicks anybody's butt if they get out of line," he said.