Iraqi Humpty Dumpty broken to pieces, Administration can't put it together again

With Headlines such as these, it is clear that there is something terribly wrong. The grand scheme for Iraq is in deep trouble. Yet President Bush and his Vice President are in denial that a civil war has broken out in Iraq.

A poll conducted last month by the Washington Post-ABC News Poll revealed that most Americans believe Iraq civil war is likely. Over 70% are pessimistic about the prospects in Iraq. Nearly 60% believe the US is failing to restore order.

In the Arab world there is a general consensus that civil war in Iraq is already raging on sectarian lines. Sunni insurgents are targeting Shiite and Kurds. Shiite militias are targeting Sunnis. A dozen or so Sunni Mosque Imams were murdered by Shiite militiamen.

The picture is not clear cut due to the presence of jihadis/suicidalist coming from neighbouring countries, who are predominantly of the Salafist Sunni and Wahabi strands of Islam. Their literature and websites indicate that their aim is to scupper the American project for democracy in the Middle East, and the restoration of the Islamic Caliphate System, which would mean in practice the installing of a Caliph (a religious person of highest status) in Baghdad, Damascus or Cairo. Istanbul and 10 Downing Street were not ruled out. The Caliph would rule all over the Islamic World, and in the long run the whole world. This is based on the premise that the entire world will turn to Islam through conquests, conversion and persuasion. The Islamic law and penal codes will be rigorously applied.

This is the grand plan of extremist groups such as Ansar al-sunna, (defenders of the Sunna), Hizbu Tahrir (Liberation Party), Hizbu Takfir(The party that declares non-Muslims and secular Muslims as infidels), and Hizbu Tahjir (the party that advocates the expulsion of non-Muslims and secular Muslims from Muslim Lands). All three are active in recruiting and brain washing of the young in Britain.

Iraq has been the ideal magnate for the ex Afghani warriors to mount their campaign. Their bloody methods include beheading, suicide bombing, and car bombs, throwing of grenades at wedding parties and funeral processions, sniping, hurling mortar shells against building, buses and other civilian targets. The objective is to spread terror and chaos, and force the occupiers out of Iraq.

The killers masquerading as fighters against the occupation have targeted and murdered accountants, builders, doctors, nurses, patients, lawyers, teachers, professors, Mosque Imams, politicians, diplomats, prostitutes, pimps, lorry drivers, taxi drivers, artists, singers, dancers, poets, welfare workers, journalists, TV crews, bakers, florists, students, girls wearing T-shirts and jeans, Iranian pilgrims, contractors, women who refused to wear Hijab the Islamic head cover, interpreters, bus passengers and the list goes on and on.

Suicide bombers detonated themselves in mosques, churches, bakeries, hospitals, recruitment centres, police stations, UN Buildings, Embassies, funeral processions, wedding parties, restaurants and so on.

By way of example:

For every American soldier killed, over 60 Iraqi civilians non-combatants are murdered by fellow Muslims.

This is done in the name of Islam.

What's to be done?

Nobody can deny except Dick Cheney and President Bush that Iraq is heading relentlessly toward civil war.

It is also clear that there is no military solution to the problem. Only a political solution. This requires massive diplomatic efforts. Both Sunni and Shi'ite leaders need to be told of the options available if they don't come to an agreement.

One option is to divide the country on sectarian grounds under the federal umbrella. Iraq will not work as it did under Saddam. The neighbouring Arab countries must be involved to help Iraqis to take care of their own security. Getting the Arab neighbours of Iraq involved, might provide the face saving formula that the Bush Administration desperately needs.