[Steve_Seattle]

Yes, I think you've hit on one thing that maybe could start a civil war.

[Capt. Tom]

When they tried to kill Sistani, when Saddam was in power, Sistani layed low for years. He makes very few public appearances. When he does it is an adventure.

. I hope Sistani can stay alive until we get out of Iraq. Of course we will keep some Military there for many years at a reduced level.

This was the third assassination attempt against Sistani and the first since the fall of president Saddam Hussein's government. - tom

BAGHDAD, 6 February 2004 — Violence continued unabated in Iraq yesterday on the eve of a visit by a UN team to negotiate an election date. Top Iraqi Shiite leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, escaped an assassination attempt and a US soldier was killed in an attack on a convoy.