our soldiers are in the crossfire!”

“Where does oil come into all this?”

“A matter of turf. The Kurdish in the north and the Shiites in the south of the country sit on top of most of the oil and gas reserves. The Sunni fear that the power represented by rich oil revenues would encourage the Kurds and the Shiite to dominate both the economic and the political landscape, even if some provisions have been proposed whereby oil revenues would be shared in accordance with population indexes and other parameters in each region.”

“So?”

“Hard to tel

“You mean to tell me that you have again spent two weeks in the Middle East, Professor?”

“Unavoidable commitments, as they say. I would have rather accompanied you to that congress in Savannah, Georgia even if the political atmosphere in that state is not one of my favorites”

“Sorry to hear that. Like all great states it does have its zells and its millers, but it is more the annoying noise they make than the impact they have. In any case it was a great congress, informative, serene and fun. Speaking of fun, what were you doing in the Middle East?”

“The usual assessment tour. We keep monitoring attitudes in order to detect those predictable changes that may have an echo in the rest of the planet. This time it has been the Iraqi situation and the incredible amount of smoke curtains, brave pronouncements, sincere promises, insincere promises and lots of that modified carbo-protein-hydrates produced by bulls, horses and chickens.”

The Professor seemed pleased with his snappy reply. I was not:

“Please give me a quick summary. I am just as confused as the rest of us when it comes to the Iraqi project. This government of theirs is hard to understand. Our President insists that everything is great, that progress is being made and that in a few more weeks Iraq will turn itself into a Garden of Eden where violence, hatred and religious differences will be eradicated forever!”

“Interesting. Let me tell you, but before let us have a friendly cappuccino and one of Antoine’s warm Apple Danish.”

“I am all ears, or rather all palate”

“We have placed a tremendous burden on the present Iraqi government. With a loaded pistol on their chests, we have forced them to write up a Constitution and create a new array of policies and directives"

“Sounds like a Mission Impossible, Professor”

“Keep in mind that Iraq is curiously divided and at the same time united by some uneven Islamic doctrines that affect 97 percent of the population. The Shiite, Sunni Arabs and Kurds, plus the Baathists and about a hundred other sects, have been expected to come up with a strategy that satisfies everyone and that would be substantial and attractive enough to stop the present hostilities, which is our main objective. Meanwhile our soldiers are in the crossfire!”

“Where does oil come into all this?”

“A matter of turf. The Kurdish in the north and the Shiites in the south of the country sit on top of most of the oil and gas reserves. The Sunni fear that the power represented by rich oil revenues would encourage the Kurds and the Shiite to dominate both the economic and the political landscape, even if some provisions have been proposed whereby oil revenues would be shared in accordance with population indexes and other parameters in each region.”

“So?”

“Hard to tell

p>“The usual assessment tour. We keep monitoring attitudes in order to detect those predictable changes that may have an echo in the rest of the planet. This time it has been the Iraqi situation and the incredible amount of smoke curtains, brave pronouncements, sincere promises, insincere promises and lots of that modified carbo-protein-hydrates produced by bulls, horses and chickens.”

The Professor seemed pleased with his snappy reply. I was not:

“Please give me a quick summary. I am just as confused as the rest of us when it comes to the Iraqi project. This government of theirs is hard to understand. Our President insists that everything is great, that progress is being made and that in a few more weeks Iraq will turn itself into a Garden of Eden where violence, hatred and religious differences will be eradicated forever!”

“Interesting. Let me tell you, but before let us have a friendly cappuccino and one of Antoine’s warm Apple Danish.”

“I am all ears, or rather all palate”

“We have placed a tremendous burden on the present Iraqi government. With a loaded pistol on their chests, we have forced them to write up a Constitution and create a new array of policies and directives"

“Sounds like a Mission Impossible, Professor”

“Keep in mind that Iraq is curiously divided and at the same time united by some uneven Islamic doctrines that affect 97 percent of the population. The Shiite, Sunni Arabs and Kurds, plus the Baathists and about a hundred other sects, have been expected to come up with a strategy that satisfies everyone and that would be substantial and attractive enough to stop the present hostilities, which is our main objective. Meanwhile our soldiers are in the crossfire!”

“Where does oil come into all this?”

“A matter of turf. The Kurdish in the north and the Shiites in the south of the country sit on top of most of the oil and gas reserves. The Sunni fear that the power represented by rich oil revenues would encourage the Kurds and the Shiite to dominate both the economic and the political landscape, even if some provisions have been proposed whereby oil revenues would be shared in accordance with population indexes and other parameters in each region.”

“So?”

“Hard to tel

. This government of theirs is hard to understand. Our President insists that everything is great, that progress is being made and that in a few more weeks Iraq will turn itself into a Garden of Eden where violence, hatred and religious differences will be eradicated forever!”

“Interesting. Let me tell you, but before let us have a friendly cappuccino and one of Antoine’s warm Apple Danish.”

“I am all ears, or rather all palate”

“We have placed a tremendous burden on the present Iraqi government. With a loaded pistol on their chests, we have forced them to write up a Constitution and create a new array of policies and directives"

“Sounds like a Mission Impossible, Professor”

“Keep in mind that Iraq is curiously divided and at the same time united by some uneven Islamic doctrines that affect 97 percent of the population. The Shiite, Sunni Arabs and Kurds, plus the Baathists and about a hundred other sects, have been expected to come up with a strategy that satisfies everyone and that would be substantial and attractive enough to stop the present hostilities, which is our main objective. Meanwhile our soldiers are in the crossfire!”

“Where does oil come into all this?”

“A matter of turf. The Kurdish in the north and the Shiites in the south of the country sit on top of most of the oil and gas reserves. The Sunni fear that the power represented by rich oil revenues would encourage the Kurds and the Shiite to dominate both the economic and the political landscape, even if some provisions have been proposed whereby oil revenues would be shared in accordance with population indexes and other parameters in each region.”

“So?”

“Hard to tel

d them to write up a Constitution and create a new array of policies and directives"

“Sounds like a Mission Impossible, Professor”

“Keep in mind that Iraq is curiously divided and at the same time united by some uneven Islamic doctrines that affect 97 percent of the population. The Shiite, Sunni Arabs and Kurds, plus the Baathists and about a hundred other sects, have been expected to come up with a strategy that satisfies everyone and that would be substantial and attractive enough to stop the present hostilities, which is our main objective. Meanwhile our soldiers are in the crossfire!”

“Where does oil come into all this?”

“A matter of turf. The Kurdish in the north and the Shiites in the south of the country sit on top of most of the oil and gas reserves. The Sunni fear that the power represented by rich oil revenues would encourage the Kurds and the Shiite to dominate both the economic and the political landscape, even if some provisions have been proposed whereby oil revenues would be shared in accordance with population indexes and other parameters in each region.”

“So?”

“Hard to tel

our soldiers are in the crossfire!”

“Where does oil come into all this?”

“A matter of turf. The Kurdish in the north and the Shiites in the south of the country sit on top of most of the oil and gas reserves. The Sunni fear that the power represented by rich oil revenues would encourage the Kurds and the Shiite to dominate both the economic and the political landscape, even if some provisions have been proposed whereby oil revenues would be shared in accordance with population indexes and other parameters in each region.”

“So?”

“Hard to tell what is going to happen. We can not claim any sort of victory at this stage. It is too early to call it a total failure and depending on the outcome of all these constitutional attempts, which can range from a bloody chaos to a gradual move toward a peaceful, if confused democratic process, a new door may be opened.”

“You do not sound overly optimistic, Prof.”

“Not on the short term. Eventually, like all events in history, time will help modify postures, soften ideologies and begin to instill collective responsibilities. A few more years and you will be able visit Baghdad and spend a day at the National Archeological Museum, that is, if Bill and Melinda Gates have rebuilt it!”

“I can hardly wait!’