Iraq has about a 20% non ethnically arab population. In addition to the Kurds, there are the Assyrians, Chaldeans and Armenians.

I did mispeak in my original post, I meant to say 'not entirely arab'. Soudi Arbaia or other gulf states are more properly pure arabic 'backyards'.

Al Qaeda and its brother, wahabism, are Sunni doctrines. Iraq is predominantly Shia. The sunnis had undue political power, but not because Saddam was a pro-sunni-anti-shia, but because he was nepotistic along tribal lines. Sunni and Shia tribes in Iraq have few familial ties.

Additionally, the Iraqi Sunni are probably the most religiously moderate folks for about 1000 miles in any direction, even more moderate then Turkey! I am sure you will deny this, and good luck finding any sources to back you. I'm sure you might find 1 or 2 sunni extremists in Iraq, but they will be isolated instances, and will likely be in the aftermath of the gulf war, possibly organized and even perpetrated by non-Iraqis.

The Iraqi Shia are NOT aligned with the Sunni teachings of Al-Qaeda/Wahabism. Wile they are less moderate than the Sunni or the Kurd, they have no ties with the Sunni Al-Qaeda.

Before GWII, the shariat was NOT employed in Iraqs major cities, nor even in its villages. Before GWII, women were not forced to wear Bhurkas, walk in front of men, were able to drive and 'vote' and own property.

In short, the only way you get 'mostly fundamentalist' is to juggle your terms dishonestly. Your current juggle is "All muslims are fundamentalists". This is bull shit, and damn near racist. I know PLENTY of muslims who take their faith with a grain of salt, and I have read many great muslim thinkers who take their religion with a grain of salt.

What you are doing is either intellectually dishonest or ignorant.

"Sorry you think choosing the battlefield is cowardly. I think of it as tactics."

No, when the battlefield is made in an innocent third parties back yard, its cowardice. Think of it as unclearly and 'creatively' as you want, but these people on the streets of Iraq did not have a dog in our fight with Al-Qaeda. Now they do, and they are dying as much as we are.

Davin L.