Posted on 11/28/2007 3:30:16 PM PST by neverdem
Heathens are pagans - people who worship idols. Like the ancient Egyptians, Norse, Romans, etc.
Muslims claim they worship the same God we do, and are an “Abrahamic Faith” like CHristianity and Judaism.
OBVIOUSLY, their perception of God and ours is radically different.
You are wrong about Sistani. He has dealt with the problem of Mookie but he is not in league with Mookie. Sistani is a revered figure and Mookie is like Hillary: someone who rode the way to power through family ties, in this case his father.
Sistani has undercut Mookie at almost every single turn since 2003. Sistani is allied to Mookie about as much as John Edwards is to Hillary.
I still think the single biggest mistake we made early on in Iraq was not busting a cap in Mookie’s fat head. For now he’s decided that it’s smarter to play nice than to piss us off again, alienate the rest of his domestic support, and meet Mr. JDAM up close and personal. But he’s still lying in the weeds, waiting. I guess the more “responsible” Shia powers like Sistani, the Sunnis, and the US, are all hoping that the longer Mookie has to lie dormant, the more that his powerbase in the Mahdi Army can be slowly bled away by various means, making him into less of a factor.
Sistani’s a pretty sharp guy. He’s no crazy zealot, he seems more like a Mafia don. He knows who’s winning, and what he needs to do to protect his own interests.
}:-)4
The question about Mookie is never easy. As he has led his black clad ragtag army of thugs, is it easier to handle them via Mookie or not. Most recently, the answer is no as they now act as criminal gangs.
Sistani is a complex character but any comparison to a mafia don would not be appropriate. Despite the numerous attacks on Shia civilians and the numerous bombings against civilians, he has urged restraint.
And now he is urging support for those people who’s leadership was behind that. Give the guy a fair shake. He’s also not supported attacks on the coalition.
This is as big an event as the war starting in the first place. I believe this is unprecedented, actually. Has anyone in his position ever uttered such a directive?
It will get ZERO coverage in the MSM.
A Must Read on the general subject at the link below:
Thanks for the ping!
#49...wow...Good post...Thanks for the ping
A lot of good posts here...Thanks FReepers
One of them will die, soon, and I'm betting on the dead one being al-Sadr.
"When you attack the King, you ought to be sure to kill him ...", or something to that effect ....................................... FRegards
Marine:
I think you’re correct in your analysis. A week or so ago the Iraqi government ‘invited’ US forces to stay in Iraq. Why would they need to do that? To seal the deal made between the various power blocks, that’s why.
Now Sistani comes out with his fatwa because he feels he has sufficient (security) guarantees from the US — specifically that we are going to be there at some level, as long as it takes.
Another reason that this is important is that Sistani retired from public life rather suddenly, stating that he was returning to religious life. For him to come out now on a matter like this show how far things have progressed.
This is one brave man.. may he live a long life.
Not if the NEA has anything to say about it. It will take at least 50 years before enough turnover in our education system occurs for that to happen. But I agree with the sentiment. Too bad GW doesn't think as clearly about the southern border as he does about the WOT.
I agree on your analysis. One thing however. I am not a Marine. I am an uncle of a Marine.
Really wonder what would have happened if we took out Mookie when we had the opportunity a while back?
I think Sistani is a decent person-— one of the few with a bit of common sense. Actually he is the epitome of true Shi’a tradition (unlike Khomeinists in Iran)—actually I believe Sistani is originally Iranian, but has lived in Iraq for so long that he is Iraqi.
Not so fast. Christians have history in Iraq and many of them still Reside there
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/come-home.htm
Yes, a very long history. And many of them have fled with the war. Also, numerous of them have been persecuted in the last four years' turmoil. Some, killed, kidnapped, raped, tortured.
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