While Iraq might slide into a civil war,or simply dissolve along ethnic or religious lines with an exceptable level of violence associated with such a break-up; the comparison between it and Somalia is a weak one. Regardless of how many war-lords or clans present in Somalia, most still viewed themselves as Somalis, and simply used civil war as vehicle to gain control or power in the country. In Iraq, the majority of Kurds and Shia do not see themselves as Iraqis. First, we must understand that a basic restraint we operate under is that nothing we do or say can give people an indentity they do not want or believe.