3 Secular Iraqis in Cabinet to Formally Resign
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, August 25, 2007; A12
“The problem is in having a political agenda that is founded on a sectarian basis,” Deen said.
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Sorry ’bout that, Jamal. That’s what happens when democracy is imposed on a sectarian country.
Political parties are non-religious sects as well. Essentially, we have a government in the United States based on Republican and Democratic ‘sects.’ At its best it works, at its worst it grumbles around in ‘sectarian’ confusion and immobility.
The difference is that in Iraq, government is still doing the petulant thing–taking their marbles and going home. Democracy is new to them and sectarian strife is not only old and honored, but understood. We have and they have a very long way to go in Iraq. I doubt whether we or they will ultimately have the patience for it.