I am quite aware that Palestine and Lebanon are distinct but actions of the Israelis have reduced both to basket cases. There is no way that Bill Hahn and I could come to a common agreement, except to agree that the U. S. invasion and its subsequent actions were and are "misguided and inane." But so are the Israeli actions.

Very briefly, Iraq had, and has, all of the problems of a country shaped by outside politicians. It was carved out of the Ottoman Empire and after WW1 became a mandate under the British. It ethnic and religious groups have never got along. The British installed Sunni leadership with Feisal as king. Turmoil in different areas persisted, the Kurds being gassed and bombed by the British in the early 1920's. The British Indian Army and Jordan Arab Legion invaded in 1941 to re-assert British domination. The Kurds again rebelled, unsuccessfully, in the 1940's. The Arab war against Israel came in 1948. With the support of Nasser of Egypt, the king (a Feisal) and important supporters were executed. Iraq became a 'republic' and general turmoil persisted until the Ba'ath takeover. Kuwait, penciled out of Iraq, continued to be a sore point. More trouble with the Kurds, etc., etc. Moderate stability in the 1970's.
Saddam Hussein governed with a very heavy hand, leading to many Shia and Kurdish deaths.
Only a dictator with a strong military can keep control of Iraq as a 'unit'. Should the country be split up? How will the oil money be apportioned? What is the solution for the unfortunate peoples of the region? I had friends among Iraqi students at university, but I have completely lost touch. How the educated Iraqis will survive the Sunni-Shia conflict which is coming, I don't know. I hope the Kurds can remain aloof, but Turkey may invade to keep a lid on Kurdish advances.

This turned into a rant, but songs can inspire them. And this little song has hidden power.