Unfortunately we went in there with the intentions(as it was sold) to bring democracy to leave without accomplishing that would make us liars.
{pssst} I think the verdict on that one has been previously rendered.
Also, when you refer to Iraqis taking control over there own destiny to whom to you refer, Sunnis, Shia, Kurds, Secularists. Thats part of the problem. You have different groups of people with different visions of how the country should be fighting over it. I think that fits the qualities of a civil war.
I was chatting with an Iraqi tonight. He's a Christian Iraqi originally from Baghdad, who emigrated here 14 yrs ago,
... he seemed to feel that it is the Sunnis who are best suited to take control.
It was his opinion that the Sunnis who had always been in charge there were the proper choice to bring balance.
A frequent lament I've heard from Christian Iraqi's is "It's not my home anymore, ...as a Christian, ...there is no place for me there."
They then go on to say "What's going on there, was never like that under Saddam". He says much of his family who have fled to Jordan, Syria, and a number of other places, (along with the majority of other Christian Iraqi refugees) all feel the violence is a tool of a covert war taking place between USA & Iran) He said "The iraqi people aren't stupid. Everybody over there knows what's going on. "The USA... they send their people in, ...then the Iranians, ...they send their people in there too." When the subject got around to Saudi Arabia, his response was dismissive saying "The Saudis, ...they already have their people in there." They will keep this going because they don't want to see Iraqi's become 'one hand' as we were before" Meaning of course united, Sunni, Shiite, Kurd, Christian, Secularist living side by side in peace with their neighbours the way it was under Saddam. One thing he said his family and so many other Christian Iraqis want to know is "How & Why". He said "We want to ask Mr Bush, how could you do this, back such conflict among those groups, ...and just leave the Christians there? How could he do that?" as he shook his head in disbelief.