Just when it seemed like the exhausting war in Iraq was finally over, conflict has erupted, yet again. With the United States withdrawal of its troops, the Shiites and Sunni's picked up right where they left off.

Last week, Sunni militants began an aggressive surge to seize territory in Iraq. With this offensive uprising came a response from the Shiites, asking all Iraqi's to defend their country from these militants. This rebellion threatens any stability that remains in the country, and could soon lead to the partition of Iraq. This partition could split the country into three sections; Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish. While this partition could possibly stabilize the country in the short term, it would not solve the conflicts that have plagued Iraq for decades.

With the rebellion spreading rapidly across the country and threatening the nation's capital, an outside intervention becomes inevitable. As reports of hundreds of dead and wounded Iraqis began to emerge, the conflict caught the United Nations' attention and also brought forth a response from the White House. President Barack Obama reportedly said that he is weighing his options.

The President has a few options, but all of them come with some risk. For starters, the President could send troops back into Iraq to stop the insurgency and bring stability back to the country. However, when stability is achieved and the time comes to withdraw our troops again, it is likely that the two sides would be back at each other's throats. This option doesn't seem worth risking the lives of mothers and fathers who already fought in Iraq just two years ago. 

Another option would be to deploy airstrikes over the rebel camps. This option would keep U.S. troops out of harms way, but it would also put the U.S. in a complicated position. After being in a war for the past 10 years, the public probably would oppose returning to war in Iraq. 

The third option, and the one that the President seems to be favoring at the moment, is to encourage Iraqi leaders to solve their political issues. The best way for stability to be restored in Iraq is if both sides work together and, in a statement issued this week, President Obama said that he would not be sending troops to Iraq until they address their political troubles. This, of course, could change as the conflict continues and more lives are lost. 

The conflict in Iraq is something to keep an eye on over the next few weeks, as it could possibly effect the lives of millions of Americans.