Iraq: Who

1
Iraq Whos Who?

• 3 main groups
• 1. Sunni Muslim17-20, center-west north (Arab
  Saddams group), Anti-US
• 2. Shiiite Muslim- 60 center-south (Arab,
  Repressed by Saddam), ambibvalent to hostile to
  US
• 3. Kurd 17-20 North (non-Arab, Repressed by
  Saddam) Pro-US, autonomous zone
  (semi-independent) in North since 1991.
• 2 Others (2-3 of pop)Turkmen conflict with
  Kurds Christian
• Iraq govt.-- Shiite-led Kurd support, Sunni
  ambivalent / hostile.
• Key Shiite DAWA Party (Prime Minister), Sadr
  Block ( Mahdi Army),
• Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq
  (SCIRI) (Badr Militia) IRAN ties
• Sectarian Violence -
• Insurgency (mainly Sunni) against US troops see
  Parenti 1 rdg Shiites Kurds, Iraqi govt.
  led by them. Most Sunnis have no militia, however
  
• -- Shia Kurd militias Badr Birgades
  (SCIRIIran ties), Mahdi Army (Sadrmore
  Nationalist, anti-US) Kurdish Pesh Merga
  (pro-US).
• Militias moved into police (esp. Shiite) and
  military Loyal to sect or govt?
• -- Fighting between Sunni Shiite, Sunni- Kurds,
  See Wong Tavernise rdg.
• Shiite (Mahdi) VS. Shiite (Badr SCIRI) in
  south, and Kurds Vs. Turkmen in North
• Splitting up? 3 Separate countries or 3
  autonomous regions in 1 country? Civil war
  escalating may draw in neighboring countries...
  Regional conflict.