Sedition in Iraq

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On the brink Before and after Askariya The myth of civil war Living murder "There is ethnic cleansing" Federal choices needed The threat of sectarianism

A conflict that bears all the hallmarks of an incipient civil war looms over Iraq. There are many forces interfering in Iraqi affairs and attempting to dictate its future. The US, UK and Israel are far from being the only active players on the Iraqi scene. Neighbouring countries -- Arab and non- Arab -- all have agendas. And all agendas appear to have at least one backer.

Iraq has become a place where non-Iraqis settle their differences. Government, security, legislation -- each is prey to foreign interference. And in a country that is a colourful mosaic of sects and creeds the threat of disintegration cannot be underestimated. Yet Shiite shrines have been around for centuries and until last week had endured more or less unscathed.

Recent events in Iraq echo earlier ones in Sudan, Lebanon and Syria. Even in North Africa there have been occasional tensions between Arabs and Berbers. In Egypt there have been sporadic confrontations between Muslims and Copts. But Iraq is not North Africa and it is not Egypt. If it descends into chaos it will do so in a way that echoes Sudan and Lebanon. The Shiites, who form the majority, are not all of Arab origins. Sunnis do not all belong to the same sect, and some of them have embraced fundamentalism.

Iraq's best hope is to emphasise citizenship over religion, and quickly. Under Saddam sectarian tensions surfaced sporadically. The Shiites felt they were oppressed by Sunnis when in fact they were oppressed by Saddam. Once Saddam was gone the Shiites stepped into the political vacuum. Many Shiite leaders had been killed and imprisoned, others forced to flee the country. Now they are the country's most influential group. Sadly, Iraq's elections promoted sectarianism rather than democracy and the Shiites, being the majority, have been tempted to flaunt their new found power.

Iraqi analysts accuse US forces of fomenting sectarianism. And it is true that Washington has promoted federalism, which can be a small step away from secession.

But can Iraq overcome such sectarianism? Can citizenship become the ultimate bond of loyalty? Can citizenship even survive under a government divided along sectarian lines?

The answer to all three questions is yes. But first Iraqis need to stop listening to individuals who promote sectarianism. They must begin to listen to those who believe in pan-Arabism. There is no reason on earth to believe that Iraq's rich sectarian fabric is bound to unravel.

Sectarianism can be defeated, but only when leaders abandon narrow considerations and begin to think of the country as a whole. Samarra is a Sunni town. And yet it has offered refuge and protection to Shiite shrines for centuries. The bombings in Samarra were a blow to all Iraqis, and to Sunnis most of all.