The Four State Solution to Peace in the Mid-East
Sunni/Shia Population Today
What is the Four State Solution?
I believe there will never be peace in the middle east until the following takes place:
- Iraq and Syria are split into three countries: Sunnistan, Shiastan, and Kurdistan.
- Palestine becomes a sovereign nation.
Iraq and Syria are pseudo countries that were created after WWI. The British and the French Sykes Picot Agreement carved up the middle east and defined borders and countries that did not correspond to the ethnic and religious difference of the people. This was done to control, manipulate, and create chaos for the people because of the oil that was discovered in the region.
Palestine was not made a sovereign country, but was given to Israel by the British Balfour Declaration to do with it as they will. The difference is Israel is a Jewish state and Palestine is an Arab Territory. Israel continues to encroach into the Palestinian territory by colonizing the territory. Further, they have restricted Palestinian travel by building walls and gates controlled by the Israeli military. They defend themselves from rocket attacks by using the Iron Dome which is a very sophisticated anti-missile system in which the U.S. helped fund and develop.
Below is the Balfour Declaration. Lord Rothchild was the head of the Jewish Zionist movement in 1917. Lord Balfour was the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1917.
The Difference Between Sunni, Shia, and Kurds
The Sunni are the majority population in the mid-east, followed by the Shia, and then the Kurds.
The Sunni believe that Muslims should be ruled by a Caliphate. A Caliphate is chosen by someone who has the knowledge and wherewithal to lead a Sunni nation.
The Shia believe that Muslims should be ruled by an Imam, who is a direct descendant of Mohammad. Iran's Supreme Leader is an Imam. Iran's major population are Shia.
The Kurds are mix of both religions and some are even Christians. This is because the Kurds have never had a homeland, but are a more nomadic people. However, they are mainly grouped in the north of Iraq and Syria, and the south of Turkey. They are also sitting on a very oil rich territory that everybody wants.
Iraq
Iraq's majority are Shia, The minority are Sunni. Saddam Hussein was a Sunni, who ruled with an Iron fist in order to control the Shia majority. Currently, there is a Shia President, Haider al-Abadi who was basically installed by the west.
Syria
Syria's majority are Sunni. However, the country is ruled by a Shia, Bashar al-Assad, who is an Alawite which is a branch of Shia. The Shia are the minority population in Syria. The news states that he used Sarin gas on his own people. Even though those people live in Syria, they are Sunni's and he doesn't like them or ISIS because they are Sunni's as well. He has created Sunni refugees that have fled to Jordan and Lebanon.
According to the Guardian News, Vladimir Putin now wants to support Bashar al-Assad's movement. The civil war that started in Syria in 2011 has left more than 240,000 dead.
Camp Bucca
The head of ISIS (The Caliphate)
ISIS
ISIS is not a country, but their goal is to become a country. ISIS was created as a result of the fall of Saddam Hussein and the Ba'ath party.
His high ranking officers were sent to a prison called Camp Bucca. The mistake that was made is that they were all imprisoned collectively and could meet and plot what they were going to do when they were released.
One of the prisoners, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was to become the leader of ISIS. According to the guards, he could be described as a low profile model prisoner, so he was released early. He then joined Al Queda. After both of the Al Queda leaders were killed, he took over a branch of Al Queda. But there was a parting of the ways and he formed ISIS.
The rest is history as we all know what he is today and what ISIS is doing. The important thing is that he is a Sunni who is known as the Caliphate. His goal is to change the middle east into a Caliphate led country.
Saudi Arabia and Iran
Saudi Arabia's majority are Sunni that have a tacit relationship with ISIS. They have an ongoing relationship with the U.S. where the U.S.sells them weapons and we buy their oil.. Currently, they are attacking Shia positions in Yemen with U.S. supplied F16's aircraft. The Shia in Yemen are called Houthis and have their own branch of their sect. But apparently, the Saudis don't like the Shia Houthis.
Iran's majority are Shia. They are tacitly sending troops to Syria to fight ISIS that is embedded there. The U.S. is trying to strike a deal with Iran to curtail their nuclear enrichment program and at the same time having to deal with Bashar Al Assad who is the Shia Alawite President of Syria and is fighting ISIS and making refugees of the Sunni population in Syria.
Turkey
Recently, Turkey has agreed to basing U.S. aircraft in their country for the purpose of attacking ISIS. However they have used their own military to not only attack ISIS, but also the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK). Apparently they feel threatened by the PKK as well as ISIS. But the PKK is also fighting ISIS. So in one way, Turkey is allied with the PKK, but in another, the PKK is their enemy. This makes for strange bedfellows indeed!
Prognosis
As one can see, this is a very complex dynamic that is taking place. The west seems to think that all they have to do is democratize these people and all will be well. However, the people of the middle east live by a theocracy that has been in existence for well over one thousand years.
In the west, we are free to practice a religion or no religion, if we so choose. We can go to church and pray and quote scripture, but our lives are legally ruled by government laws. In the Muslim world, they pray five times each day. Their day to day lives are ruled by the Koran and the teachings of Mohammad. Extremists interpret the Koran, just like others have interpreted the Bible to justify killings and all types of atrocities.
Currently some of our presidential candidates are taking a very simplistic view of the mid-east and think we can bomb our way out of this or put boots on the ground and have an all out war. but it's not going to work. These people are in their own three-way-civil war and are coming apart at the seams. We as a people need to understand this.
I don't believe the media and the administration have done a good job in explaining these differences of the people. They are identified by their nationalities and not their religious and ethnic difference. They do not pay allegiance to the countries they live in or recognize the borders, but to the form of Islam they practice and believe in. Therefore, they should be identified as Sunni, Shia, and Kurds, not rebels, militia, and insurgents.
When they lose their identity, they become very abstract to the uniformed and much misinformation is propagated. Even if we take out ISIS, this conflict will not end, because these people are not living in their original ethnic and cultural areas. However, due to the natural order of things, refugees are being displaced and slowly returning back to their places of origin.
Oil is a finite resource, once it is gone, there will be a huge paradigm shift as the middle east will no longer attract foreign interests and they will lose their power in the geopolitical scheme of things. But until then, I believe peace will be hard to come by unless the western world recognizes the religious differences and removes the borders separating these people from uniting with their own kind.
Comments
Great work here, peoplepower73. Easy to read and understand. You are absolutely right. The countries the Brits established after WWI never meant anything to the people of the Middle East. Desert Storm was basically about that issue. The one point I'd hit a little harder is that ISIS evolved after Bush's Brenner abolished the Iraqi army - a huge mistake on several levels.
You are right. You should have stopped after the first 11 words of this hub.
I wish more people would read this hub and understand the differences between all the groups of people you discussed. Many don't realize that a lot of these people were lumped together in a "country" where they had nothing in common. I like your solution.
And I also wish the U.S. would stop thinking peoples who didn't live in a democracy, want to rush and do it now. I get worried about Christian Evangelicals, because this is a secular country, and if they keep trying to change that, we could become like the Middle East.
Mike, I think "the Outdated" forum may be slowing down! I think everything plus the 2nd amendment was discussed there.
Thank you Mr. Russo, I just started to read some of your articles, and I appreciate a simple communication that helps to simplify the very complicated way the Middle East is situated. Although I knew some very basics, I understand way more thanks to you!! I have always thought that our support of Isreal was over the top considering their condemnation of the Palestinians. I also realize it is complicated, but always hope that someone may realize one day (that has the power to communicate to their people in Isreal), that they have not abided by a very vague and powerful agreement that gave them the Jewish state they so needed. As such, they should clearly also realize that after you receive what is needed for your people, you do NOT continue to take advantage of the position you now have, to undermine those who don't have a chance against a US supported Isreal. I do not demonize Isreal, or the Palestinians, however it would really be nice to see borders that realize the needs of both peoples. As a long time Democrat, I have to say that I questioned your comments regarding the nuclear disarmament deal, however concede that there are two sides to everything, and your point is well taken. It would be nice to see those that have little power in the US (a sleeping Congress) to provide needed assistance in putting through needed legislation to assist those in our own country, instead of pandering to those they think may help them in their next election bids. I guess Im off topic, just thinking how much time is spent in choosing sides, instead of making positive changes that other countries would respect, rather than take advantage of. Again, I will continue to read your posts, I even read a couple to my husband! (smile)
Mike
It isn't that, I just have a different view point about issues than the average person. I try to look at both sides and then see what they bring to the table. I grew up in Manhattan and I know about diversity from the streets.
Seriously, if people can't agree on the same God and follow the same rules than how can they ever agree.
One of the most intelligent solution ideas I've heard. I think no matter what you do it's a hornet's nest at first, but your idea might actually work in the long run. Just trying to will our beliefs on the Middle East never will.
Great hub!
You're right, it is complicated. In fact yours is the first explanation I've read that makes sense, and I'm not sure that I followed it all the way because my poor little brain starts to read "Tilt" about halfway through. The crux of the matter is that none of them can agree on the interpretation of whose god is the biggest or the most powerful (or, in come cases, the nastiest) and by the time you mix it with the greed of oil in the Middle East, it is a mess. The Western World needs to work on alternative energy solutions and get the heck out of there. One thing most people don't realize about Israel has nothing to do with religion. They are the eyes and ears of the non-Muslim world. Without them we would have very little spy power in the Middle East. At least that's what my ex-spook of a husband says, and he did spend some time there snooping around in his younger days.
Mike
So, you are saying it is God's fault, as all he has to do is tell them who is right.
Just joking, but that is the problem with a silent God.
I will try to find your hub.
Mike
Hi neighbor
I think that beyond the economic, Israel is different from the Arab countries that surround it. Israel would most likely be peaceful if not attacked by people who want ot exterminate it. It is about Religion and who does God favor.
Unlike the Arab countries, Israel produces many products and it doesn't rely on Oil money. Ironically, the Arab countries provide the world with more than oil, they also provide drugs. Which ironic because it doesn't agree with their religion.
As for 40 years in the desert for the Jews, it didn't stop then. Their entire history has been being the target of their neighbors. Israel hasn't much more that the US when it goes on the offensive. While, the Arabs host the terrorists that don't have any boundaries in their Jihad.
The Muslims don't like Christians or Jews, and while it started a very long time ago, the issues are still present today. They still live under the ancient and primitive Sharia Law.
So bottom line, unless God intervenes and calls one religion the winner, there will never be a solution for those countries.
Just a thought.
The 6 day war wasn't an idea of Israel.
What? 40 years wandering around? We're talking about present-day. And Israel is supposed to be secular--just like America supposed to be. IF it was really about religion....no Christian could support Israel because of their abortion policy.
It's not religion...it's something else.
And whatever it is pays no heed to any standards of decency.
IF God is Love.....well then, this is the opposite....IF I was religious: I'd wonder just who and what people are paying homage to.
Mike
You did a lot of work on this hub, but the simple core of the problem is Religion. It is ironic that worshiping a God results in death, and war. If there is one God, most of the people got it wrong.
The Muslims can't even agree within their own religion. And for a prophet Mohandas didn't see his own death or its consequences.
The Jews have had it bad. 40 years wandering around the desert looking for the promised land. Then after WWII they couldn't find a place to be their country, and now they have it but there are problems. Once again the problem is religion.
If you can't convince Democrats and Republicans to share the country, it is even harder to share a God.
But you see...by that Balfour letter....Palestine was to be a national home for Jewish people, doing no harm to the people already living there.
Not a violent take-over, as it became.
Bombing the hotel...wiping out villages.....They never lived by that agreement, and still refuse to honor international agreements.
Thereby making it a rogue state. IMO
So, who should get Palestine? Split it up? Israel wants all of Jerusalem.....it's just so unfair.
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