Perhaps, in other words, it’s time to merge the military Plan B — the surge — with a political Plan B — flexible decentralization. That would mean using adequate force levels (finally!) to help those who are returning to sectarian homelands. It would mean erecting buffers between populations where possible and establishing order in areas that remain mixed. It would mean finding decentralized governing structures that reflect the social and psychological facts on the ground.

the partitioning of Iraq may be inevitable but i'm reminded of my country's involvement in the partitioning of Ireland, the partitioning of India/Pakistan/Bangladesh and the problems of Cyprus
the seeds of India and Pakistan developing nuclear weapons were sown in 1947
partition may be inevitable
it may damp down the escalating internecine warfare
but don't be fooled it's the easy solution
i don't have an alternative reality simulator that might allow me to weigh the comparitive death tolls of different approaches but history suggests that partition doesn't cool the sides off rather they brood and plot revenge from a position of safety and yet Rwanda pops into my head *sigh*
i'm so glad i'm not in charge