As the House debates the Iraq war, a Wisconsin Republican breaks ranks with his party. Congressman Tom Petri of Fond du Lac provided a history of Iraq and an analysis of the nation's politics. "Iraq has never been a unified country with enough common interests to foster the give and take of democracy" said Petri.
Petri said the while U.S. enterprise in Iraq has been well intentioned and skillfully and honorably carried out by our armed forces, he doesn't think it's fair to ask them to be policemen in a civil war. Petri said it's time to accept reality, and echoing comments made earlier by Wisconsin Democrat Dave Obey , called for the partition of Iraq into separate, Sunni, Shia and Kurd enclaves joined in a loose confederation. Petri said the only other option, choosing a faction to control the entire country by force, is not an attractive choice for the U.S.
