Iraq A RADICAL Islamist insurgency in Iraq poses potentially catastrophic consequences for all of us. Iraq was carved out, at the end of the Great War, as a construct in which tribes and peoples were separated, in arbitrary fashion, by straight lines on a map. Different traditions thrown together into a whole that was always under strain. And post Saddam and the withdrawal of western forces, it has begun to disintegrate. Iraq's fragmentation hinges on two branches of Islam – the Shi'ites and Sunnis. To that has to be added the independence-minded Kurds. In a matter of weeks ISIS, a ruthless Sunni militia, has swept the north and west of the country to seize vast swathes of territory including Mosul and the country's largest oil field. Critical to ISIS's success is the local support it has received in the north. Key to this is the divisive rule by the Shi'ite led government in Baghdad. A regime that has fuelled Sunni resentment. While further ISIS advances into Shi'ite Baghdad and the south and the bulk of the country's remaining oil fields is unlikely, the real danger of Iraq now splitting into three parts remains – the Kurds in the north, the Shi'ites holding the south and ISIS creating a 'Caliphate' across northern Iraq and parts of Syria. If ISIS achieves this then the scene is set for the export of terrorism against the west on a frightening scale. At least 400 British Jihadis are fighting with ISIS — how many will return to our shores? They will be difficult to track and monitor. So what do we do? Here are three thoughts. 1. Provide Iraq with intelligence and anti-terrorism support. 2. Help create an inclusive government and 3. Review how we track terrorists planning atrocities in Britain — including data interception. What do you think?