Changes

==Insurgency==

==Insurgency==

Since the removal of Saddam, Iraq has seen the rise of sectarian violence initiated by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's [[Sunni]] dominated al-Qaeda in Iraq faction and the [[Shia]] population. The strategy was to disrupt Iraq's economy and make the new democratic state ungovernable as long as the U.S. presence continued. Many Iraqis remain grateful to the United States for freeing them from Saddam's dictatorship. The de-Ba'athification process excluded many Sunnis from leadership in the new Iraq. To many Sunnis, the US was viewed suspiciously for supporting the democratically elected Shia majority. Though a minority, the Sunni have traditionally ruled Iraq and view themselves entitled to continue the privilege of doing so. There are also some intractable Sunni whose interpretation of Muslim law says that the Shia are considered heretics, and thus not fit to lead the nation.  

After the removal of Saddam, Iraq saw the rise of sectarian violence initiated by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's [[Sunni]] dominated al-Qaeda in Iraq faction and the majority [[Shia]] population. The strategy was to disrupt Iraq's economy and make the new democratic state ungovernable as long as the U.S. presence continued. Many Iraqis remain grateful to the United States for freeing them from Saddam's dictatorship. The de-Ba'athification process excluded many Sunnis from leadership in the new Iraq. To many Sunnis, the US was viewed suspiciously for supporting the democratically elected Shia majority. Though a minority, the Sunni have traditionally ruled Iraq and view themselves entitled to continue the privilege of doing so. There are also some intractable Sunni whose interpretation of Muslim law says that the Shia are considered heretics, and thus not fit to lead the nation.  

The Shia majority, notably the [[Jaysh Al-Madhi]], have had militant factions who not only attacked Sunni Muslims but also American and other coalition troops even while the coalition was protecting the democratically elected Shia from Sunni attacks. Other Shia groups that have not attacked coalition forces have pursued their own factional aims while relying on the US to ensure Shia majority rule, instead of seeking unity and a cohesive representatively fair national political structure, which hampered progress and reconciliation efforts. <ref> Testimony of Edward N. Luttwak, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate , Hearings on [http://www.csis.org/media/csis/congress/ts070123luttwak.pdf Securing America's Interest in Iraq], retrieved March 21, 2007</ref>   

The Shia majority, notably the [[Jaysh Al-Madhi]], have had militant factions who not only attacked Sunni Muslims but also American and other coalition troops even while the coalition was protecting the democratically elected Shia from Sunni attacks. Other Shia groups that have not attacked coalition forces have pursued their own factional aims while relying on the US to ensure Shia majority rule, instead of seeking unity and a cohesive representatively fair national political structure, which hampered progress and reconciliation efforts. <ref> Testimony of Edward N. Luttwak, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate , Hearings on [http://www.csis.org/media/csis/congress/ts070123luttwak.pdf Securing America's Interest in Iraq], retrieved March 21, 2007</ref>