Iraq war III not a viable option
AGAINST the backdrop of the growing instability and violence in Iraq, US President Barack Obama has been under growing pressure at home and abroad to come to the aid of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki whose government is fighting for its survival against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) insurgents who have already taken control of parts of the country.
The problem is that considering the realities on the ground in Iraq, it's difficult to imagine that the United States could bring an end anytime soon to what has become for all practical purposes a civil war between Arab-Sunnis and Arab-Shiites, with the third player, the Kurds in northern Iraq, already possessing a status of semi-independence.
Indeed, there are no signs that the Shiites and the Sunnis or their respective regional patrons, Iran and Saudi Arabia, are ready to make a deal. In fact, one of the reasons that the ISIL has been winning support among members of the Sunni minority has been the failure of Mr Maliki who rules over a Shiite-dominated government to provide the Sunnis with more opportunities in sharing power in Baghdad.
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Columns
‘Competition for talent’ a poor excuse to keep key executives’ pay under wraps
OCBC should put its properties into a Reit and distribute the trust’s units to shareholders
Why a stronger US dollar is dangerous
An overstimulated US economy is asking for trouble
Too many property agents? Cap commissions on home sales
Time to study broadening of private market access