Iraq: Civil War or Religious War?

[ThomWV]

If, as network news would have us believe, the battle going on in Iraq is primarily a war between Sunni and Shia (because apparently everyone except us hates the Kurds so they aren't considered in the equation), two branches of one religion, then how is this mess in Iraq a Civil war rather than a Religious war?

[BuyingThyme]

1. Why would a religious war not be a civil war?

[ThomWV]

8. It Could Be, But Not Here

I see a Civil War as one driven by adverse political views, not differing religious views. Here we are talking about people being killed because they either believe in the direct linage between the revered one and their religious leaders - or not. Kind of like a war between those who believe in the da Vinci Code and those who do not. One would hardly call that a civil war.

[Warren Stupidity]

15. I don't think these are exclusive terms.

Religion could certainly be one dividing element in a civil war. Characterizing the civil war in Iraq as only about religion is to simply the conflict to a nearly meaningless level. The conflict is about ethnic divisions, religious divisions, oil resources, geopolitical power struggles, a whole bunch of things. Shiite vs Sunni is just one factor.

[wtmusic]

2. Neither

it's anarchy. Exactly what the United States would be after three years sans law and order.

[Kagemusha]

3. Short answer: Political Islam

It's not Grand Ayatollah Sistani declaring a fatwa against the Sunnis and launching a holy war blessed by the highest earthly authority of the Shiite religion. It's militias, political parties, political islamists fighting against a mix of radicalized fundamentalist Sunnis, disgruntled former Baathists, and the blood relatives of those wronged by the US military or other forces. Religion certainly plays a factor but, mainly insofar as it mixes with the secular power struggle.

[NOLADEM]

4. A Civil War is often between different sects

All a Civil War means is fighting between countrymen of different groups. It is unique to each conflict as to exactly what constitutes the division.

[uppityperson]

5. why would a religious war not be a civil war not be a religious war not be a civil war?

[peacebird]

6. it is a civil war, sects are fighting for dominance.

Somehow I think of religious wars as the Crusades - where one religion is trying to forcibly impose itself on a population. Shia and Sunni are both Muslim, but of different tribes, no? Funny thing is - before our massive clusterf**k misadventure in Iraq, intermarriage was common and the various groups co-existed peacefully.

Civil war is the result of our pre-emptive war of choice destabilizing the entire country.

History will damn us for this. Even those of us who tried to prevent it.

[Cocoa]

7. it's a civil war

what's the theological difference between Sunnis and Shias, and is it ever referenced in the conflict whatsovever?

[Radical Activist]

9. Neither: A war of liberation to oppose a foreign occupier.

Its funny how the administration and media are trying to make it appear as anything but what it clearly is. Iraqis are killing other Iraqis who just so happened to be cooperating with the Americans.

[Cocoa]

11. the 200 victims of the Thanksdiving Day massacre

they were American symps, or even accused of that?

No, they were Shia, that's all.

[Radical Activist]

Those opposing the occupation are exploiting religious divides.

We don't know enough details about the attack to know the motivations for sure. Making it a Shia/Sunni issue is an oversimplification the media enjoys.

[Cocoa]

14. I think it's partly the other way around

those fomenting civil war are exploiting the disorder brought about by the invasion.

What details about the attack would alter the fact that the victims were all Shia? Is there anyone outside of the "media" who disputes that that atrocity was a sectarian one?

[sam sarrha]

12. you have a point, but it is a civil war, by definition, over 1000 people killed over a governmental

power struggle.. 3000 people killed last month alone.. by one race, killing each other.. and bombing a market place peopled by Shiites by Sunnis is not an action against us.. they gain favor from their gOD in the killing of other muslins.!!!!!. wake the hell up, we need to get out..

[sam sarrha]

10. Islam is the politics in each splinter group.. Islam is everything. religion politics it dominates

every aspect of their lives..

here is a link that can shed some light on the problem
it is a site run by X-Muslems.. http://www.islam-watch.org/index.html

run down the list to .. 'Non Arab Muslems: islam is a monkey on your backs'.. there is so much well thought out first hand experience written info there

[Gwerlain]

13. Yes. n/t