Hate Quote by Patrick Cockburn
“There are some things that could hold it together, notably oil revenues. But at the moment, the much vaunted surge has had a measure of success primarily, to my mind, because Sunni and Shia Iraqis hate and fear each other more these days than they hate and fear the Americans.”
About This Quote
Political stability in Iraq depends on economic factors like oil, yet sectarian tensions between Sunnis and Shias currently dominate, reducing fear of external forces.
In simple terms: Oil revenue helps, but Sunni-Shia rivalry is the main driver of conflict now.
Key Takeaway
Address sectarian divisions to improve stability.
Themes
politics
economics
conflict
Middle East
Mood
tense
analytical
Type
political
commentary
When to use this quote
- government policy
- peace talks
- oil market analysis
Key Concepts
resource dependence
sectarianism
national unity
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies could reduce Sunni-Shia animosity?
- Can economic reforms outweigh sectarian divides?
A Different Perspective
Oil alone cannot resolve deep social rifts.
![“Muqtada belongs to the most famous religious family in Iraq, which is the al-Sadr family. He's really the third in line. [Muqtada's father] drew his power from the first really important al-Sadr, Muhammad Baqir, who was executed by Saddam in 1980, together with his sister. So it's really a family…” quote by Patrick Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e65/patrick-cockburn-28053_als_muqtada-belongs-to-the-most-famous-relig_1789273.jpg)
