As I was saying . . .

The Washington Times also thinks a civil war very possible, and Shi'ite theocracy the most likely alternative.

One correction to their story. I would have thought a FEDERAL, not unitary, Iraq was the US goal. Unfortunately, while Federalism is the obvious solution, it does not exist in the Arab world, and is beyond the political understanding of most Arabs. This is not to say they are stupid, just that federalism is no more part of their tradition than a unitary state is part of Americans' traditions. Most Americans don't know what a unitary state is, just as most Arabs don't know what federalism is.