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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Will Iraq Become a Divided Country?

In Baghdad today, 44 Sunni prisoners in a government-controlled police station were killed — apparently in retaliation for advances by Sunni extremists with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. As forces of ISIS get closer to Baghdad, it appears that Iraq's current leadership might not hold the country together.

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By Warren Olney • Jun 17, 2014 • 1 min read

In Baghdad today, 44 Sunni prisoners in a government-controlled police station were killed — apparently in retaliation for advances by Sunni extremists with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. As forces of ISIS get closer to Baghdad, it appears that Iraq's current leadership might not hold the country together. The unlikely alliance of Iran and the US is urging political unity instead of sectarian warfare, but they're being ignored by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Others insist that Iraq never was a real country, and that division between Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds is inevitable. Will the current chaos lead to a re-drawing of national boundaries imposed by European colonial powers 100 years ago?

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • KCRW placeholder

    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

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    Evan George

    Director of Content, News

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    Caitlin Shamberg

    KCRW

  • KCRW placeholder

    Alissa Johannsen Rubin

    New York Times

  • KCRW placeholder

    Peter Galbraith

    gubernatorial candidate and former diplomat

  • KCRW placeholder

    Wayne White

    Middle East Policy Council

    NewsNationalPolitics
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