What will Iraq be like in 2008?

[karlschneider]

This seemed to be an easy poll until I started to put in the choices.
Any suggestions, let me know, I can add a couple more.
:eyes:

[movonne]

1. Until the oil runs out!!!!!

[htuttle]

2. An Islamic Republic more like Iran (not 100% Theocratic)

With an independent Kurdistan in the North which may or may not be in some sort of federation with Iraq proper.

OR

Kurdistan may be in a war with Turkey over the northern oil fields (but Turkey will say it's due to Kurdish terrorism).

I think it's entirely possible that the Shia and the Sunni work out some sort of arrangement to stay together in a single country.

(on edit)

OR

The US is still occupying Iraq, in which case, there's an even better chance that the Sunnis and Shia will unite at some point.

One thing is certain: Chalabi will be found hanging from a bridge with bricks in his pockets by 2008.

[DUreader]

3. Not Occupied by US and still chaotic

[ThoughtPolice]

5. Too much depends on who wins the Presidency!

Too much variation here. It really depends on who wins the upcoming Presidential election.

If Bush, Braun, Lieberman, or Kerry win, we'll stay the course and continue to occupy, rebuild and reconstruct.

If Clark, Sharpton, Dean, Kucinich or any other candidate that believes in immediate withdrawl from Iraq wins, we'll pull out, garunteeing civil war and chaos until either a theocratic totalitarian revolution wins out or a dictator with support from Iraq's neighbors takes control and establishes another Saddam like regime.

She has no hope - but I wish for Mosley Braun to win. She's the best Democrat with the most realistic assessment of the Iraq situation.

What's done is done, so now we must finish it right!

[knight_of_the_star]

4. Afghanistan v 2.0

Warlords roaming the countryside, the most powerful being in control of the cities. The Bush backed government will control only Baghdad and only just by using force to stay in power in the city. The Oil Fields will be guarded by Warlords being paid by Halliburton and Bechtel to keep them safe. That is of course assuming that Bush wins in '04. If Clark wins, then it will still probably be under UN mandate.

[durutti]

6. A Few Guesses

Here are a few possibilities, assuming violent resistance to the occupation doesn't become really widespread:

1. Iraq is made a protectorate of the United States.
2. Iraq gains independence, but the U.S. props up another dictator to serve its interests.
3. Some form of representative democracy is established, but the U.S. dominates it by various means.

[RuB]

7. Baghdad will be glass.

I don't know about the north or south. But the Arab extremists will not allow the West to occupy Arab land. And the rest of the Arab world see Iraqi's as an embarrassment for not putting up more of a fight when Bushie invaded.

[karlschneider]

8. Reply to all, some interesting answers. I guess I should have included

"an unknown that we don't know is unknown" (or whatever that goofy thing Rummy said a few months ago...)

Of course nobody knows, but it's gonna be...uh, interesting.
:eyes: