[John D Harris]

Skunk, I don't beleive the average Sunni participated in the rape and torture of the other ethnic groups. But the average Sunni was aware of most favored treatment, for as you say they lived in utopia, (or as close to it as the Iraqi government alowed) They average Sunni does know that has ended, and they are no longer going to get the best just because they are who they are. I would bet the average Sunni was aware that the Shia were not living the the same standard, or to put it in western terms "in the same class" as the Sunni. They average Sunni knows the game is up, and their power base is gone. For generations these people have fought and argued amoung themselves, the average Sunni would be well aware that for the last 25-30 years they were top dog, the power rested in their hands, or at least on their side.

Granted the other groups did not bow and scrape as a Sunni walked by, but they were aware their side was in power. Just as the average Republicain is aware their side is in power currently in the U.S.A., the average Republicain is not in the government. But the side they agree with is in power, and they don't want the other side to get power, same goes for the average Democrat if they were in power currently. The culture of the U.S.A. doesn't alow for acts of terrorism or attacks in a phsyical way on the other side, verbal attacks and name calling yes. But in Iraq and the area surrounding Iraq, violent actions are not frowned on, the 5,000+ years of history bare this out, with the possible slight exception of the Mede(sp?) & Persian empire starting under Cyrus the Great. The ones that ruled, ruled by fear and intimidation, ruthlessness is how they held power. Their culture would dictate,that they will expect the same type of treatment their side dished out, to be dished out on them by the new group in power. Since their culture accepts acts of violence, they will do acts of violences to try and keep what they see as their downfall, or their coming downfall from happening. On the individual level, person to person the use of kindness can work. But on the group level violence must be stomped, crushed, destroyed first. As Cyrus did with the Babylonian empire. kill it crush it drive it into the ground. Place their foot on the necks of the fallen first, then after control has been established. Pick them up and say all is forgiven you shall not be treated as though you are cattle by us, you shall have the chance to live in peace, watch you chilren grow up and your grandchilren come into this world.