[altura]

I've tried to understand the big difference between the Sunnis and Shiits.

It seems so trivial to me, but so important to them.

I can't even understand what's going on in my Episcopal church right now, except the wrong people have the power. (we have our own Nancy Pelosi)

But I take comfort in the fact that political enemies do not kill each other in this country.

Well, maybe a certain couple we know and love might have offed a few but ...

[snugs]

I suppose the best example in western society would be the Republicans and loyalists in Northern Ireland who like to say Catholic and Protestants.

[Common Tator]

It seems so trivial to me, but so important to them.

The media tells us it is religious problem. It is not in my view.. it is a power problem

During the 3 Decades that Saddam ran Iraq, the Sunnis were in power. They ran the government, got paid well, and had the good life.

You will recall that the Shiites tried to over throw Saddam after the first Gulf War. They failed and died by the tens of thousands for making the attempt.

But with the over throw of Saddam, the Sunnis were now in the minority. There are far more Shiites and Kurds in Iraq then there are Sunnis. In a majority rule type government the Sunnis were afraid they would be the subject of Shiite revenge... They would be attacked by a Shiite dominated government just as the Shiites had been abused under the Saddam (Sunni) rule.

There was a lot of effort put into the Iraqi constitution to guarantee the rights of the Sunnis.

But at least some of the Sunnis do not trust there democratically adopted constitution or the Shiites to protect their rights. It is also clear that some Sunnis felt that if they can drive the US out of Iraq they can topple the Government and put themselves back into power.

So we have had constant attacks on both US troops and Shiites to try to drive us out of Iraq. We have had a policy of trying to convince Sunnis that they will have rights and be protected under their new form of government.

That policy has obviously failed.

That leaves only three options. Side with one side or the other and then do what it takes to suppress the side with which we are not allied. Another option is to pick up and leave.. That is admit defeat and come home. The third is to continue the attempts to convince the Sunnis that they will have a say and be protected by the Iraqi government.

I believe that picking a side and taking out the other, is the only way to ensure victory.

But it is not about religion.. It is about the power to rule Iraq.