Howard Dean: Iraq Reunification Is Impossible

Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean (D) told Morning Joe Friday morning that a reunification of Iraq would be impossible following former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s sectarian government and its breakdown over the surge of ISIS.

“I think, unfortunately, in terms of reunifying Iraq, that’s probably not possible,” Dean said. “The new prime minister is also allied with Iran, not as notably and closely and with less authoritarian tendencies that Maliki had. But Iran is your next door neighbor, they’re both Shiites, and there’s going to be a Shiite ascendancy, and the Sunni will resent that.”

“I think the solution often is we have to support the Peshmerga on the ground with arms and training but not ground troops,” Dean continued. “They have to fight their own battle. we can help them fight their own battle but they have to fight on the ground and be willing to do that. Until the Sunni, who are being oppressed by ISIS in their own territory, are willing to do that, this isn’t going to succeed.”

Watch the clip below, via MSNBC:

[Image via screengrab]

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