During the recent weeks of intense military action in Iraq, we asked the h2g2 Community not to discuss the conflict on site but to discuss the crisis at The Great Debate message board. Now that the frequency and intensity of the military exchanges has diminished, message board users and DNA Community members may resume discussion of the issue in their preferred communities.

This forum has been established as a dedicated area to discuss the conflict in the Middle East and its wider implications. When posting please bear in mind the House Rules and the following guidelines:

Respect for Others

The main things to bear in mind when using h2g2 to debate the current situation are:

• Be especially aware of the sensitivities of all others using the site; try to look at things from the point of view of others on site.

• Do not post inflammatory messages, as these do not contribute to an atmosphere of debate; tensions run high during heated debates, so please try not to cause or respond to argumentative behaviour.

• It is vital to avoid racial or cultural abuse, so avoid posting anything that is simply offensive to others and does not contribute to the debate. For example, do not employ slang or offensive terms for people from a specific race or country.