Interesting is the correct word but not surprising. The cycle between religion and secular forces in the region is long standing. On a macro-level, in the Cold War it was Arab Nationalism as defined by the Pan-Arab Movement. The 1967 War unhinged those Pan-Arab ties prettty effectively and 1973 cut them. Still the movement toward a Palestinian identity remained secular for the most part until the 1979 Iranian Revolution and events in Lebanon with the rise of Hizballah, later matched by Hamas in the course of the 2nd Intifade.

Iraq as a country has for the most part been fairly secular because it had to be in order to survive. Saddam essentially had a monoply on which religious cards could be played and he dealt them. At the same time he used tribal and religious lines to make sure he retained control. With his removal, the surge of religion as a directive and disruptive force (at least towards a national identity) was to be expected; certainly we predicted that in 1990 and to a certain degree the Shia uprisings in the south confirmed those predictions.

Looking at these suggested "findings" I would assign two more words. First is fatigue with the idea that this slice of Iraqi life is tired of the religious conflict and wants something else. To that I would add the word hopeful because if this proves to be something more than a passing journalistic fancy, then it does offer hope for Iraq.

Tom