Iraqi leaders warned on Monday that an early U.S. troop withdrawal could tip the country into all-out civil war.
- Reuters

Iraq is tearing itself apart and the presence of coalition forces is doing little to stop the death and destruction that is occurring.  The only hope for stability in Iraq is for the Iraqi people to come to a constructive and equitable political arrangement.

At present the three major factions, Shiite, Sunni and Kurd, are quibbling over what remains of their once proud nation, with each group trying to get the biggest slice for themselves, and no sign of a compromise.

The presence of American and coalition forces in the country provides these politicians with little incentive to make the compromises necessary to move forward.

An immediate withdrawal would likely trigger the start of an all-out civil war.  Some would argue that the civil war has already been under way for some time.

What is needed, and what the Bush Administration constantly avoids, is a definite schedule for the phased withdrawal of coalition troops.

Compromise amongst the factions will only occur when they realize that the consequences of failure will be the destruction of Iraq. 

It is not the role of America, the U.N. or anyone else to tell the Iraqis how to run their country. The Iraqi people, and in particular the Iraqi politicians, need to get their act together and stop holding out for a “better deal”.

A sudden withdrawal could prove fatal to Iraq, but a planned withdrawal with clearly specified dates, may be just what is needed to get the factions talking and making real, meaningful progress towards a better future for all Iraqis.