Iraqi Unity

Yesterday, renowned historian of modern Iraq Peter Sluglett gave a talk on campus about the development of the situation in that country since the fall of Saddam Hussein. One point he made was that in his view, dividing Iraq along sectarian lines would be a mistake. As he put it, Iraqis identified more closely with nationalities and socio-economic groups than with religious sects. In my own readings, I've noticed that throughout the 20th century, Shi'ite leaders always sought representation in an united national government, not autonomy. Sunni dominance in the country has not been religious, but is rather the result of leadership drawn from Sunni areas whose connections are, of course, mostly Sunni.

To a degree this might be a strawman argument, since I haven't heard high-level officials of any kind suggest breaking up Iraq, and indeed doing so would go against American foreign policy as articulated in Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. So as I see it, the coalition wants a united Iraq, Iraqis want an united Iraq, and Iraq's neighbors want a united Iraq. Can we just put this issue to bed?

UPDATE: I just remember that last spring, Iraqis kept protesting for a united country. So in that sense, the situation is almost the exact opposite of what happened in Yugoslavia, where there were strong independence movements and well-developed nationalisms.