World Affairs Board - View Single Post - Sistani Speaks Against Re-Integrating Baathists

S-2 · 04-02-2007, 13:12 PM

According to the article, about 1.5 mil out of 27 mil Iraqis were Baath party members. What, about 5.5% of the population? Almost certainly sunni and male. Within the sunni community, it's leading elements are effectively neutered forever from access to the political and governmental processes of Iraq. When you evaluate the impact upon 1.5 mil adult males out of a population segment of approx. 9.2 mil Iraqi sunnis, it's staggering. Defeating this legislation virtually guarantees perpetual exclusion for the adult sunni population.

Certainly fits the biblical tinge ascribed to Mesopotamia of an "eye for an eye". Still, it equally guarantees a festering and indefinite sunni insurgency sponsored from without. Perversely, this may actually work to America's benefit. I suspect that, in our absence, the al-Quds, Pasdaran, IRGC, etc., in conjunction with the state security apparatus of Iraq would find the suppression of a well-funded Iraqi sunni insurgency a MASSIVE headache.

Let it become their tar-baby, as it certainly will.

I can easily imagine Iranian ambitions and appetite over-reaching itself.

04-02-2007, 13:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
S-2 *Military Professional* Join Date: 09-11-06 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 2,544 Country:	Iraq's Permanent Underclass- Sunnis According to the article, about 1.5 mil out of 27 mil Iraqis were Baath party members. What, about 5.5% of the population? Almost certainly sunni and male. Within the sunni community, it's leading elements are effectively neutered forever from access to the political and governmental processes of Iraq. When you evaluate the impact upon 1.5 mil adult males out of a population segment of approx. 9.2 mil Iraqi sunnis, it's staggering. Defeating this legislation virtually guarantees perpetual exclusion for the adult sunni population. Certainly fits the biblical tinge ascribed to Mesopotamia of an "eye for an eye". Still, it equally guarantees a festering and indefinite sunni insurgency sponsored from without. Perversely, this may actually work to America's benefit. I suspect that, in our absence, the al-Quds, Pasdaran, IRGC, etc., in conjunction with the state security apparatus of Iraq would find the suppression of a well-funded Iraqi sunni insurgency a MASSIVE headache. Let it become their tar-baby, as it certainly will. I can easily imagine Iranian ambitions and appetite over-reaching itself.