Sen. Levin: Bush must prevent Iraq civil war (column today)

[Faygo Kid]

Important information, definitely worth a read:

Levin: Bush must prevent Iraq civil war

Senator says unless Sunni fears are addressed, country will come apart

Sen. Carl Levin /

The first four months after the new Iraqi Assembly convenes are likely to determine whether Iraq will be engulfed in all-out civil war or move toward nationhood.

Why four months? Because that is the time period Iraqis have given themselves in their new constitution to consider amendments to it. If the constitution is not amended within that time to address the concerns of Iraq's Sunni Arabs, the likelihood of an all-out civil war dramatically increases.

The Iraqi constitution is flawed. Gen. George Casey, commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq, testified to the Armed Services Committee: "We've looked for the constitution to be a national compact, and the perception now is that it's not, particularly among the Sunni."

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060118/OPINION01/601180319/1007/OPINION

[JuniperLea]

1. Too late!

This is a civil war already.

[Jacobin]

2. What's he want? More troops?

Saddam was there to prevent civil war and he did so for a long time.

Without an efficient strongman dictator, the country is destined for civil war and was from the time it was cobbled together by western powers.

U.S. troops on the other hand and the various viceroys we send over there aren't capable of preventing a civil war. Hell, its already started. We are just in the way of it.

[ixion]

3. * can't wipe his own nose... how's he going to do that?

:shrug:

[rzemanfl]

8. Wrong, Bush can wipe his own nose and he can wipe his own

ass, it's the sequence he can't seem to get down.

[WearyOne2]

4. how ?

[Faygo Kid]

6. Read the op-ed? Iraqis get an ultimatum.

Not saying it would work. Just saying the likelihood of an Iraqi civil war may be of interest, and Carl Levin has credibility. Welcome to DU, by the way; interesting that this was your first post.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. And just how will this be accomplished?

[0rganism]

7. Sorry, Carl, bush ain't gonna do Jack Shit

(might do Jack Abramoff, but that's something else entirely)

The ones who will be "preventing" a civil war in Iraq are American soldiers, many of whom would rather be somewhere else, but are stuck doing the job congress & president sent them to do -- controlling Iraq's oil.

The Iraqis will have or not have their civil war regardless of the presence of any number of American soldiers, senators or presidents.