[Iris7]

Beyond question the most important political fact in the Moslem "Middle East" is the Sunni - Shia split. Modernity and the West are not the direct cause of "Middle Eastern" friction. The Sunni - Shia split is.

The epicenter of Moslem politics is in Iraq. I see this center of gravity, this pivot point of history, in the Battle of Karbala. This huge battle at Karbala, a place sixty miles south west of Baghdad, solidified and made bitter the Sunni-Shiite divide.

The United States dominates this ground and therefore can control (unless the Left over here succeeds in imposing our defeat) the Sunni - Shia balance of power. We can keep either side from losing or from winning by our will. (Currently this means that Iran's nuclear weapons project must be be neutralized.)

Through diplomacy, and the whole operation since September 11 has been diplomacy in action, the ancient "middle eastern" world is changing dramatically. (By "diplomacy" I mean true and actual diplomacy and not the endless prattle of the UN and Foggy Bottom but instead the great persuasive power of our Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps and of the man who is very possibly the greatest American President ever.)

To reiterate, our enemies in this struggle are first and foremost and most dangerously domestic enemies. They are doing everything possible to turn victory into defeat.

[Valin]

Beyond question the most important political fact in the Moslem "Middle East" is the Sunni - Shia split.

Don't know enough to say that this is THE factor in the Arab world, and I'm not sure it's worth the effort to quantify which is the most important, but it is without a doubt A important issue.

By "diplomacy" I mean true and actual diplomacy

Links? Thanks.

[bitt]

nice!