Another View

[Feanor]

Iraq: A State or Fragmented Territory?

Here's an interesting article I found. Please don't kill me if it's not very intelligent, I don't necessarily agree with the article. I just though it was interesting.

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Military_Matters_Iraq_state_fantasy_999.html

EDIT: Ok I changed the title. Maybe people will be more interested now.

 

[Dr Freud]

This is one of the more intelligent problems that has been taken up in this forum, alltho i think a headline like "Iraq state fantasy"would have attract more viewers.

Orders given in Baghdad have no meaning, because there are no state institutions to carry them out. The governmental positions of Iraqi leaders have no substance. Their power is a function of their relationship to various militias, not of their offices.

At least in some states, a nation became a modern state when the king made a deal with the nobles: "support me and i will guarantee your privilages". - Later of course he or his successors began to reduce these privilages, but only when he had support of the people and could safely do it.
It would be good if you or any moderator could change the headline to something more descriptive.