Iraq civil war seen drawing in neighbours

[ECH1969]

Three years after warning that invading Iraq would unleash hell in the Middle East, Baghdad's neighbours fear they could be dragged into a brewing civil war.

As Sunni-Shi'ite violence intensifies, governments in Turkey, Iran and nearby Arab countries are drawing up plans to prevent any sectarian or ethnic conflict spilling across borders and upsetting their internal political balance, analysts say.

They are also considering its likely impact on an already shifting regional balance of power, in which Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia fears the rising political clout of Shi'ite Muslim Iran.

"If war breaks out in Iraq, it will become a battleground involving everyone in the region," said Kuwaiti political analyst Jassem al-Saadoun. "Every one of Iraq's neighbours is guilty of meddling in its affairs for political gain."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L15769347.htm

[OKNancy]

1. ANALYSIS-Iraq civil war seen drawing in neighbours

Interesting analysis article

[IndianaGreen]

2. Well, Turkey won't let the Kurds in Iraq declare independence

The Sunnis in the Arab world will support their brethren in Iraq. Iran will support the Shias in Iraq, and the Shias in Iraq will support Iran if the US/Israel bombs its nuclear facilities.

It will only get worse!

[bemildred]

3. "If war breaks out in Iraq ..."

Hello?