Reply #17: Under the circumstances,...

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

,...Iraq is clearly a 'humanitarian crisis zone' with the number of deaths and wounded and oppressed/starving and refugees.

However, I think history, recent history, tends to show civil unrest is caused by third (edited to add FOREIGN) parties usurping interest in sovereign resources. The unrest tends to be desperate actions calculated to gain some measure of control, no matter how small, over the resources. Of course, the third (edited to add FOREIGN) parties always have the money to wage comparatively greater force/violence/manipulation leading people to scramble for any tidbit. That's why I am a huge advocate of nationalizing oil AT LEAST until Iraq is back to pre-war conditions. Then, the IRAQIS can be in a more equal footing to negotiate contracts with the multi-nationals (although, I do understand those multinationals have tended to enjoy the benefits of nationalization because they have worked quite profitably with tyrants and dictators). Perhaps, the Iraqis can set up an independent board to oversee nationalization?

I wish I knew a quick solution to the disaster created by this administration. There are none.

I'll bet another progressive goal that would help Iraq greatly is prosecution of war-profiteering and war crimes! Seriously!!!