Sunnis vs. Shia vs. Kurd

Hitchens writes a great column on how the media is misleading us on the ethnic divisions in Iraq.

The major media types consistently mention how the Sunnis are not happy with the latest referendum poll results and that the results are sure to spur more ethnic violence. The problem with these media assertions is that they never explain what exactly the Sunnis would be fighting for:

Would they be fighting for independence? No. The Sunnis are apparently mad that the Kurds and Shia want to be independent. What they would be fighting for is more oil revenue and I suppose more influence. The problem for the Sunnis is that they only represent 20% of the population and have no oil wealth. The Sunnis would have to rely on covert donations to keep up the fight. Further, they would be facing an ever increasingly more skilled Shia/Kurd army. If they keep fighting they are sure to lose and lose badly. At some point, the Sunnis will realize that they can't be a 13th colony left out of the Union. They must join or be left to poverty.

Update: This column in the Wall Street Journal discusses investment in Iraq.