The Cast of Characters

The two significant sects of Islam split back to the 600s, soon after Muhammed's death in 632. Muhammed's son-in-law, Ali, gained support as the inheritor of the duty to spread Islam. Thus, "Shia" is an abbreviation of "Shiat Ali," or the people of Ali. Not all Muslims believed in Ali's place as a leader. While they respected Muhammed's relative as a holy man, they recognized that he was not a Messiah. That role was solely delegated to Muhammed. Rather, the Shi'ites regarded Ali as the first in a series of Imam, or the direct descendents of Muhammad who act as messengers of God. There were 12 Imams before the bloodline died out in the 800s. Each of these Imams now has sub-sects devoted to their worship within Shia Islam.

The majority of Muslims are Sunni, the largest and more orthodox sect of Islam. Sunnis do not attach any special power to the Imam, but have a rather less structured hierarchy of religious leaders. Some have compared their system as similar in spirit to Protestantism, where ministers are important advisers and community leaders, but they are neither infallible nor chosen by God. These leaders, called Caliphs, teach Islam. They bring peace, dignity, and goodwill to their members and encourage following the laws and guidelines laid out in the Quran. Also, they do not rule the place of worship in the sense of excluding other kinds of Muslims. All mosques are nondenominational, and can receive prayers from any sect.

Shi'ites comprise 10-15% of all Muslims as the second largest sect, but that number is higher in certain countries such as Iran. In more recent history, The Shia were admonished to take up their jihad (holy war) and carry out the will of their god by Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini. He was an Imam, and his supposed message from god was that Israel should be eradciated and that America deserved to die as well.

By 1980, the jihadist Muslim community was enraged over the peace treaty signed by Israel’s Manachem Begin and Egypt’s Anwar Sadat. Sadat was Muslim. Any appeasement with Israel rang like an act of treason to the jihadist Muslims. In 1981, they assassinated Anwar Sadat.

In 1982, Lebanon found Israel to be an encroaching threat. Hezbollah was founded by Shi-ite followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini. They have been funded by both Iran and Syria.

Prior to the events of 9-11, Hezbollah was responsible for the deaths of more Americans than any other terrorist group. Hezbollah is believed responsible for having taken part in the simultaneous suicide bombing of U.S. marine barracks and French paratrooper headquarters in Beirut on April 18, 1983. That attack that killed 241 Marines and 58 French soldiers. According to press reports and government documents, it was the execution and impact of these attacks, combined with the subsequent withdrawal of the U.S.-led Multinational Forces from Lebanon, which later served as an inspiration to Osama bin Laden. Clearly a cut and run defense proved disasterous in the long run.

References to cooperation between al Qaeda and Hezbollah abound in the 9-11 Commission's final report. Hezbollah is now headed by Sheik Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah . He is a relatively young man born in 1960 who studies America as an enemy. In April of 2002, he spoke to his followers after America went to war in Afghanistan. He declared: “(George W. Bush) says that he will bring his values to our countries in order for us to become good people and not terrorists. Of course we must discover the truth, which lies clearly and sharply behind the picture that is showed by the media about the society of the USA, a picture that is a lie. Anyway, This truth could be discovered by reading some reports, studies, books, documentaries, and even watching some movies that shows some aspects of life in the society of the USA .. .” He goes on to say that the media clearly points out that America is an evil entity that kills and then rationalizes her sins.

And with this, the play is set. It’s about war in the Middle East and how it entangles the rest of the world.

America’s Liberal media plays a role in this drama cast as an unhappy antagonist who unwittingly betrays the safety of her entire community through her incessant griping to anyone who will listen.

Whether out of fear, convenience or for the prominence and the political clout they got, the Lebanese people are now stuck, cast as extras for the war scenes.

Sadly, too many Americans think they have been invited to watch the production now quite understanding that they too play a role in this drama. They seem to be oblivious to the fact that as allies to Israel, we have a responsibility to be at the ready if Israel should need us to step into this fight. The set is being build all around those who think they sit in the audience.

The story line will take twists and turns in the days to come. One such surprise I predict will be the source of all the weapons Hezzbollah has gotten their hands on. It seems rather obvious why Hezzbollah emboldened suddenly. General Georges Sada of the Iraqi Air Force recently revealed in his book, “Saddam’s Secrets” of his first-hand knowledge of how Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction were moved to Syria.

In an interview, I asked General Sada who these WMDs belonged now that Saddam was out of power. He replied, “Iraq does not want them back. It’s up to the International Community to find them and secure them”.

Syria knows Saddam’s not going to come back any time soon to reclaim his vast cache of weapons or the monetary fortunes he left with them either. Why wouldn’t Syria have spread Saddam’s assets over to their allies at Hezzbollah or to Iran?

Contrary to Georges Sada’s wishes, it isn’t in the best interest of the International Community at the United Nations to acknowledge these WMDs even exist!

What a story! It packs in so much anger, animosity, grief, pain and loss. It hardly gives the audience a chance to gasp for breath with this unyielding assault of the senses. Again, it’s a story about war.

I'm Jenni Vinson Trejo. The Cast of Characters is My Opinion. Thank you for listening.

This author tells the story of the sects in Islam without noting how much it had to do with territory. Mohammed was an expansionist and when he died his sons were not satisfied but set out in all directions to conquer huge kingdoms. The only form of government was exploitative tyranny famous for lavish luxury for rulers and nothing for everyone else. Sadam Hussein was following ample precedent in this. After so many years we see a land that has been abused and ravaged. I think the best way to hjelp would be to send all of our enviornmentalists to the Middle East for years to plant trees.

I liked the fact that it was summarily concise. It looks like it was done for radio and therefore had to fit into a certain time slot. She's a new poster and I liked it.

I may be wrong but my understanding is that Mo' had only one son who died quite young as a result of quarreling between jealous wives. But he did have cousins, not sure about uncles.

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