Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues Foreign Policy & News Petraeus Assessment

I'm all for sovereignty as well, and I don't think we Americans are particularly in a favorable position to be dictating to other countries on the subject of fair-minded and open governance. Nevertheless, I recognize that it might be better for most Iraqi's if there is some kind of separation between Shari'a and State. I don't know if that's the case, but I think it's important to provide the best possible environment for the Iraqis to figure that out for themselves.

Because we all have so much emotionally invested in Iraq, whichever side of the question of the Occupation we happen to fall on, it's harder for us to see and bear the suffering that is likely to come whether we withdraw our military forces or not.

I hope you're right about the Muqtada. I think he and al Sistani are Iraq's best hopes right now for unity, and IMHO nothing could complement the fierce Shi'ite nationalist and conciliatory ally of Khameni than a strong, perhaps even principled, Kurd like Jala Talabani.