In order for Iraq to come together as a nation, they must have a strong national identity that rises above ethnic and religious differences. If they cannot rise above these differences, Iraq will be a failed state, and they should build smaller states based on their ethnic or religious differences. Warfare between these state based on religious or ethic differences should be avoided. It is bad enough that they have failed their children by not forming a strong Iraqi state, but it would be worse if they subjected them to a fight over the remains of what could have been a very important country.

You did not publish an interview granted by
Pope Wojtyla in 1988 to a Polish journalist
who a few hours later was asked not to publish it. He complied for 17 years
and published it now. It appeared in the
prestigious Italian newspaper LA STAMPA
on October 3 2005. The analysis of Nazism,
Fscism and Communism made by the Pope
during the interview are extraordinary.

Inside good news today is bad news. A conflict between British soldiers and local population ended to assuring good relationships. In reality it told about grave tension in one of the Iraq's most calm area.
The troops of the USA and Iraq attacked together to Tal Afar in western Iraq and took the city from the partisans. They told that it showed the efficiency of training the Iraq army and they fight very well. The fact that the whole city have to conquer after three years of occupation did not tell the power of occupier, it told the power of insurgents! Surely Tal Afar does not remain calm long time. Iraq army is mainly tribe soldiers of Kurds and Shiites who have changed the uniform. For them punishing Sunnis was a pleasure.
It is difficult to create a national army without national feeling of togetherness and without credible national government. There are not such things in Iraq. The gap between different groups is not lessen it is widening. The ministry in heavily protected green zone is not a government equivalent to its name. If a division of one group is distinguishing against another group, the result does not prove the power of a national army.
There is at least a political agenda. In October there will be a referendum of a constitution. Based on that in December they will elect a new parliament who will appoint a new government. Then, maybe, Iraq can be called a constitutional democracy -- even without security. The achievement can be a torso. The constitution is a compromise of Shiites and Kurds. Sunnis will not feel it as their constitution. The rebellious movement will not weaken.
People and politicians who are frustrated to the bloody dead end have started to demand withdrawing from Iraq without caring of consequences. If the support of people will collapse totally it is one option too. It would not be easy and the consequences will be unexpected. By withdrawing president Bush simply would announce that his whole policy in Iraq has been only one big irresponsible mistake. Withdrawing could start a civil war and the USA would carry the moral responsibility. The most important oil area in the world would be under anarchy.
You don't have to believe that the oil was the only reason to attack to Iraq to understand how difficult the oil makes to accept the defeat and leave. Besides of Iraq there is in the game also oil assets of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The ownership of oil is not a hot strategic issue. The stable availability of oil to the markets really is one.
The cruel fact is that there is no adequate strategy to solve the crisis in Iraq. The USA is in the trap of its own shortsighted policy. It is incapable to restore security to Iraq and unable to leave.

Steven Waldman, please send the link of La Stampa Interview. I can't find it on their site.