Iraq - Better or Worse?

[_Opi_]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

the invasion and occupation helped create the environment for the current insurgency and possible civil war.

Helped in a significant way. This is essentially my point. If you are saying that the government knew the shiite/sunnis were not living peacefully side by side, then they should have been able to foresee this civil war ---or the possibility of a major conflict?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by _Opi_

Helped in a significant way. This is essentially my point. If you are saying that the government knew the shiite/sunnis were not living peacefully side by side, then they should have been able to foresee this civil war ---or the possibility of a major conflict?

If that is your point, then say that. Don't say that the "fighting" between Sunnis and Shi'ias is a situation we "created" if what you mean is we helped, significantly or otherwise, create the environment in which already existing tensions could grow into fighting.

That's all I'm saying.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by _Opi_

Helped in a significant way. This is essentially my point. If you are saying that the government knew the shiite/sunnis were not living peacefully side by side, then they should have been able to foresee this civil war ---or the possibility of a major conflict?

This is quite circular with the original point of this thread (aka "better or worse?"), because the thing keeping open hostility between the two groups at bay was . . . oppressive dictatorship from one side, and associated fearmongering and death.

This really gives the question a lot more depth than most posts acknowledge, in my mind.