Daniel Pipes - Civil War in Iraq would not be that bad for our interests

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Saturday March 04, 2006 · 1:51 PM PST

2006/03/04 · 13:51

OK, I guess nothing should surprise me anymore, but I am surprised nevertheless that there was so little attention given to a recent article in the New York Sun and a radio interview on ABC News Lateline Australia by Dr. Daniel Pipes in which he says

Civil war in Iraq, in short, would be a humanitarian tragedy but not a strategic one.

To his credit (yes, I am being sarcastic), Pipes does admit that

Well, let me start by emphasising that it is a humanitarian disaster and in no sense do I want one to take place. It's a horrible prospect.

Before continuing on to say

Should, however, it take place I don't, think from the point of view of the coalition it is necessarily that bad for our interests.

I somehow think most Iraqi's would be quite relieved to hear of Dr. Pipes' concern for their welfare in a civil war fomented by U.S. intervention and disdain for postwar planning.

(more on the flip)

Dr. Pipes believes that civil war will serve coalition interests in so many ways. An incomplete list of the good things (strategically) are as follows:

* Instead of attacking coalition forces, warring sectarian groups will attack each other!

* Effectively shutdown the rush to the formation of Democratic governments in middle east countries that have so far been electing and legitimizing radical Islamists!

* Reduce Western casualties outside Iraq {because} when Sunni terrorists target Shiites and vice-versa, non-Muslims are less likely to be hurt!

* Draw Syrians and Iranians into the conflict which increases the possibility of American confrontation with those two states!

In Pipes world, toppling Saddam was (or, at least should have been) the goal of the war with the rest left up to the Iraqis. He credits President Bush for the former and criticizes him for the latter.

As has been said so many times over the past few years, you just can't make this stuff up because no one would believe you. Check out the links for plenty more interesting ideas by Pipes. Quite the realist he is. Just be glad you're not an Iraqi... or an American soldier... or an American.

Oops.

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