Why is the world so reluctant to accept partition as the answer to ethnic, religious or political conflicts? The Kosovo conflict may finally be moving in that direction, but only after all sides debased themselves by years of murderous conflict. In Iraq, too, the much-needed separation into three autonomous units — Shiite, Sunni and Kurd — is finally being considered, but again only after years of senseless brutality.

Partitioning seems to raise false images of national surrender and dismemberment — a blot on the precious badge of national sovereignty. But national honor need not be sacrificed. Indeed, separating warring factions today could be the key to national revival and integrity tomorrow.

Taiwan is a good example. Separation from mainland China in 1949 gave the embattled anticommunist Chinese minority the chance to regroup, regain confidence and even do much to educate the dominant majority during the latter's periods of ideological madness. Hong Kong, too, has played a crucial in educating and helping its Chinese parent to revive economically. True, those partitions only came about through historical and geographical accident. And Taiwan's refusal today to accept some reconciliation with the mainland creates problems. But they are significant all the same, today especially.