le carré writes on the iraq situation, page-13

g'day SJ

a couple of points;

"Of course, Americans are bluff optimists, often insensitive to history, to local culture, to traditional allegiances and to the balance of power. This may mean that things are less stable after an American intervention than before - as was Europe after Woodrow Wilson’s input into the Treaty of Versailles. "

Thats the worry

When Pinochet was in power he was the darling of the west esp Thatcher and human rights protestors were silenced. He had a model economy.

The kurds are a hot political potato and have the ability to turn the region upside down. Turkey, Iran & Iraq dont want them (due to their mobility and lack of allegiances) and Turkey is an ally of Israel...Iran and Iraq are fundamentally opposed.....at present Kurds are being protected by the no fly zone....after the US invasion and with a new Iraq Govt this will be dismantled leaving Kurds at risk of genocide.....as somone said its 'chaosistan'.