Separate Iraq into three new nations

When Sunni insurgents attack Shiites, we get blamed for not protecting the victims. When Shiite militias attack the Sunni, we get blamed for not protecting the victims. When we get attacked, we get blamed just for being there and when we attack, we get blamed for being invaders. When we talk about a troop withdraw, we are called irresponsible. If we talk about a troop surge, we are called occupiers. As administrators, we are called a failure, and if we discuss leaving, we are called irresponsible failures. Iraq is the epitome of a lose-lose situation in a world affair scenario.

Saving the whole of Iraq may be impossible, but saving all of Iraq is possible...by partitioning the country. Like the way India was separated into India and Pakistan, the least unstable solution to the Iraq issue is to create three new countries. Despite the tension between India and Pakistan, their separation has probably saved tens of thousands of lives over the last sixty years. Likewise, separating Iraq into three countries will likely achieve the same result. Logically, one country would be made up of Kurds. They will stay in place. One country will have a Shiite population and one country will have a Sunni population. Where and how these two populations will divide non-Kurdish Iraq will need to be negotiated, as well as an oil-revenue sharing plan by all three new nations.

The devil will be in the details, but mass relocations have occurred in history, even in US History, and for the better. Many should remember that the United States was largely founded by people escaping religious persecution from where they lived (England): the Pilgrims in Massachusetts, the Quakers in Pennsylvania, and the Catholics in Maryland, and even the Mormons in Utah after the United States was founded. Albeit by war, the colonies won their independence and became a separate nation. Eventually, the United States and Great Britain focused more on the similarities rather than the differences, and now enjoy a close friendship. Perhaps in time, the three nations formed from current Iraq would enjoy the same.

Once a nation is created, it is difficult for the ruling power(s) to cede land. Thousands of civil wars have been fought and many times, the nation comes out stronger because of it. However, there are occasions when the correct course is for a nation to separate. Those who are responsible for the future of Iraq (which includes us) must have the courage to see current Iraq as three nations instead of one.