In an article in 2004 on Islamist movements in Iraq, "Social Education" pointed out that Iraq might be headed toward a juncture from which "one road leads to sectarian and ethnic strife and the other to the establishment of a new Islamic republic in the Middle East." The events of 2005 propelled Iraq further in that direction. Elections for a national assembly in January and December confirmed that the Iraqi political scene in the era following Saddam Hussein has fragmented on a sectarian and ethnic basis. The dominant parties of the new Iraq--Arab Shia, Arab Sunni and Kurdish--each represent their own communities and have little appeal to Iraqis of different communities. Furthermore, this article shows the results of the December election. It also presents the contentious issues that divide the political movements of the different communities: (1) The U.S. military presence in Iraq; (2) Control of the Iraqi police and security forces; (3) Federalism; (4) The status of Kirkuk; (5) The elimination of Baathist influence on Iraq; and (6) The balance between religion and secularism.