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2012-03-09 Africa North

Autonomy Bid in Libya Prompts Fears of Nation's Break-up

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Posted by Fred 2012-03-09 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top
File under: Arab Spring

#1 As was noted a few days ago, until after WWII, Libya was basically three or two administrative countries. And those divisions were likely sensible, such as why Libya is a different country from either Egypt or Tunisia and Algeria.

Comparatively, federalism is often like water that seeks its own level. East Libya feels rather exploited by West Libya because its oil wealth goes West to Tripoli with little to show for it in the East. This was a big factor in the split of Sudan.

So far, Iraq has made a success of its major federal division between southern Iraq and Kurdistan, because the Arabs have wisely not been terribly oppressive of the Kurds. So from the point of view of the Kurds, the alliance with the Arabs (in light of Turkey) is better, for the time being than going it alone.

However, at the same time, the restive Sunni western Iraq has written a lot of checks that it cannot afford. So the Shiites have made it abundantly clear that they either toe the federal line or they face expulsion.

Posted by Anonymoose 2012-03-09 09:25|| 2012-03-09 09:25|| Front Page Top

#2 because its oil wealth goes West to Tripoli with little to show for it in the East. This was a big factor in the split of Sudan

Not because north Sudan is Arab and Muslim, while south Sudan (now South Sudan) is black and not Muslim, so the north was jihading against the south?

Posted by trailing wife 2012-03-09 09:48|| 2012-03-09 09:48|| Front Page Top

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