Yugoslavia was and Iraq is an "artificial" country. In Iraq the British took three somewhat to largely incompatible groups and tried to turn them into a "nation".

The Kurds have tried to secede, against the wishes of the Iraq central government AND the Turks, and the Sunnis and Shiites just fight.

Saddam finally let the Kurds have their own "de facto" country, without, of course, official foreign affairs, and ran the rest.

But it takes a very strong leader willing to take quite repressive measures to hold it all together. (Kind of like A. Lincoln in the US. Decided to hold it together at all costs.) I'm not saying that's morally right, just that it's reality.

That's one of the considerations the US should have taken into account before the aggression. This isn't a natural "nation".

Look at Afghanistan and the Bush Administrations failed effort at nation-building there. Same situation - either take very strong repressive measures OR let the various factions have their own areas in a loose coalition. There are showcase efforts around Kabul, but that's it.

To try to force a US style "democracy" on these countries is folly, as GWB has realized in Afghanistan. Our promises to stay, rebuild, be in it for the long haul, hospitals, schools, women's rights, etc., haven't happened. Kabul is the only area, a very small area, and the Karzai "government" is an American puppet, without much popular support, if any, in the countryside.

Too bad they have oranges and figs. If they had oil it would be different.

Arf