Several points arise out of this question, which, as others have said, is not well thought out.

1. Sunnis and Shiites are not better or worse, merely different, and when the people who are trying to instal a democratic regime finally realise how great that difference is, there may be some small chance of starting a process of compromise which might be acceptable to both.

2. It is not the American people who have all that blood on their hands, but the hawks among their political leaders. They do not seem to realise that being told what to do by a foreign force of occupation is essentially as bad, or worse, than being ruled by a dictator, who at least belongs in their country.

3. The world is indeed much more complicated than western politicians believe, and the results of misunderstanding national, and religious, characteristics are so disastrous, that no such action as this should ever be taken, unless the initiator is prepared to deal long term with the consequences.

The United States seems likely to pay an enormous cost in blood for the removal of an enemy, and I fear that the only outcome will be the creation of more enemies in his place.

Don T.