[NYer]

On www.chiesa, on the situation of the Christians in Iraq:

> The Last Mass of Father Ragheed, a Martyr of the Chaldean Church (5.6.2007)

> A Final Appeal: Save Christian Iraq (28.5.2007)

On the internal conflict in the Muslim world, with an analysis by Khaled Fouad Allam:

> Why the Real War Is Inside Islam (19.4.2007)

On the possible hegemony of Khomeinist Iran:

> From Lebanon to Central Asia, the Rise of Shia Muslims (8.8.2006)

On Islam and democracy in Iraq, with an analysis by Khaled Fouad Allam:

> How and Why Iraq Is Teaching a Lesson to the World – And to the Church (31.10.2005)

On the different kinds of preaching in the Iraqi Sunni and Shiite mosques:

> Countdown to Voting in Iraq: The Mosques Are Clashing, Too (7.1.2005)

An analysis by Vittorio E. Parsi, a specialist in international politics for the Italian bishops’ conference:

> Trying Democracy in Baghdad, with the Vatican's Blessing (8.11.2004)

The role of Najaf, the Shiite holy city, explained by Khaled Fouad Allam:

> The Future of Iraq’s Christians Will Be Decided at the Tomb of Alì (24.8.2004)

Again on the Shiite holy city, with a profile of its highest religious leader at the time:

> Shiite Islam: The Grand Ayatollah Sistani Wants Najaf as the Capital (4.3.2004)

Khaled Fouad Allam on the Shiite question in Iraq and in the entire Muslim world:

> Islam and Democracy in Iraq. The Martyrdom of the Shiite Muslims (1.9.2003)

[NYer]

Catholic Ping
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Eastern Catholic Ping List
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[SolidWood]

Sistani is the only Ayatollah I am praying (no kidding) for.
It is actually sad that so much depends on him... but he is a force of good in Iraq and we have an interest in having him around.

[NYer]

ping!

[Perdogg]

Shias are consider worse than Christian and Jews by the Salafists.

[BenLurkin]

“only good citizens can create a good society.”

That statement — by itself — is true.

[AliVeritas]

Bookmark

[fireforeffect]

This is why Al-Qaeda/Iran want Grand Ayatollah Sistini, Marja’-e Taqlid (Source of Emulation), dead.

"This was encapsulated by an episode ignored by the Western press, but with profound consequences in Iran: Islamic months begin with the sighting of the new moon. Khamenei, in his role as Supreme Leader, reserves the right to make the final decision on when months begin and end. In order to exert authority and highlight religious differences, he often declares months to begin the day after religious authorities in other countries do. In 2003, most Shia clerics declared the end of Ramadan to be on November 25. Khamenei decreed its end to be the following day. The problem was, though, that Iranian journalists had already interviewed Sistani and published his answer. While innocuous to the Western audience, Sistani’s contradiction of Khamenei’s pronouncement shook the political establishment in Iran. How could Khamenei be the Supreme Leader if many Iranians looked toward Sistani for guidance?"

Excerpt from Iranian Strategy in Iraq, by Michael Barone

Link: http://www.aei.org/publications/filter.all,pubID.26500/pub_detail.asp

[Coleus]

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