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Argument: Argument thesis  U.S. cannot withdraw from Iraq until it is stabilized
Node type: Node refutes parent assertion  This node refutes its parent
Parent Node: Node refutes parent assertion  Civil war is already underway and must be worked out by the Iraqis
Node Text: Will lead to regional war, involving at least Saudi Arabia and Iran

Saudi Arabia will act to protect the Sunni majority.

"Over the past year, a chorus of voices has called for Saudi Arabia to protect the Sunni community in Iraq and thwart Iranian influence there. Senior Iraqi tribal and religious figures, along with the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and other Arab and Muslim countries, have petitioned the Saudi leadership to provide Iraqi Sunnis with weapons and financial support. Moreover, domestic pressure to intervene is intense. Major Saudi tribal confederations, which have extremely close historical and communal ties with their counterparts in Iraq, are demanding action. They are supported by a new generation of Saudi royals in strategic government positions who are eager to see the kingdom play a more muscular role in the region.

Because King Abdullah has been working to minimize sectarian tensions in Iraq and reconcile Sunni and Shiite communities, because he gave President Bush his word that he wouldn't meddle in Iraq (and because it would be impossible to ensure that Saudi-funded militias wouldn't attack U.S. troops), these requests have all been refused. They will, however, be heeded if American troops begin a phased withdrawal from Iraq."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

Meanwhile, Iran is already believed to be supporting the Shiite majority.

"A senior American intelligence official said Monday that the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah had been training members of the Mahdi Army, the Iraqi Shiite militia led by Moktada al-Sadr.

The official said that 1,000 to 2,000 fighters from the Mahdi Army and other Shiite militias had been trained by Hezbollah in Lebanon. A small number of Hezbollah operatives have also visited Iraq to help with training, the official said."

http://www.nytimes.com/...
Node Created: Ulysses Berman — 2006-11-29 18:48:37

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