Those Bad Ol' Iraqis?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

Iraq was pretty secular.

Then why is there so much hatred between the Sunnis and shias. And both of them with the Kurds. Since Iraqi is a tag that came with the cobbling together Iraq, of three enemies, by outside forces, there's really no grounds for national heritage or pride. Make a democracy implausible.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Then why is there so much hatred between the Sunnis and shias. And both of them with the Kurds. Since Iraqi is a tag that came with the cobbling together Iraq, of three enemies, by outside forces, there's really no grounds for national heritage or pride. Make a democracy implausible.

Iraq was more secular than the countries around it, which isn't saying much.

I think there wasn't much violence because it was suppressed under the rule of Saddam.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

Iraq was more secular than the countries around it, which isn't saying much.

I think there wasn't much violence because it was suppressed under the rule of Saddam.

I think you're right at the moment. There have been times in the recent past that Iran, Lebanon, even Saudi Arabia were more secular than presently. But this war has caused the militants to gain influence.