Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Uprising By Shiites in Basra Underway; British Pouring Artillery into City
Sky News Live Feed ^ | 03/25/03 | TonyInOhio

Posted on 03/25/2003 9:14:57 AM PST by TonyInOhio

Just monitored on Sky News: embedded reporter says Shiites in Basra have begun, in his words, a "popular uprising" against the Saddam forces still in the city. British Army units are "pouring" artillery into the city (likely isolated areas) preparing to move in.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: antisaddam; basra; embeddedreport; iraq; roadtobaghdad; shiites; uprising; war; warlist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 741-760761-780781-800801-807 last
To: JohnHuang2; MeeknMing
Thanks for the pings, guys. I was excited when I heard the news earlier.
801 posted on 03/25/2003 8:00:14 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: piasa; Illbay
One more question, please. Are the terms Shia and Shiite used interchangeably, or are they two different groups? Are the names different only to distinguish Pakistani from Arabian? Do they have a connected and common history?
802 posted on 03/26/2003 7:57:36 AM PST by Helen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 632 | View Replies]

To: Helen
"Shia" is short for "Shia Ali," meaning (IIRC, from an explanation by an Iranian friend of mine many years ago) "the martyrdom of Ali."

Ali was a son-in-law of Mohammed, and the Shia branch of Islam believe he was designated by the prophet to succeed him as chief of his tribe (insinuating also, I assume, religious leadership). But there was another relative--brother-in-law, son-in-law, cousin, whatever--who was a rival for that title.

Apparently Ali and his followers were ambushed by this rival's followers, and Ali was killed.

Thus he was a "martyr," and the "Shiites" (that is, followers of "the martyr") believe his was the TRUTH path of Islam.

It is not unlike the eastern vs. western branches of Christianity, save it has been a lot bloodier.
803 posted on 03/26/2003 8:05:05 AM PST by Illbay (Don't believe every tagline you read - including this one)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 802 | View Replies]

To: Illbay
Thank you. I'm beginning to sort of get a vague understanding of the complications behind the religion and the conflict - thanks to you and piasa and others. I've heard the labels forever, but it has always been sort of a surface acceptance of the terms and the religion, and they held a distance that did not particularly pique my curiosity. I'm now trying to catch up. So much to learn - such a short lifespan (and I've already lived half a century)!
804 posted on 03/26/2003 8:34:29 AM PST by Helen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 803 | View Replies]

To: Helen
Your realization that there is "so much to learn" about this religion and culture--as any religion and culture--puts you miles ahead of, sadly, far too many FReepers who want to trivialize things through vast oversimplification.

There are centuries of history here. We only see a tiny aperture representing current events.

To say that "all Islam is evil" is to engage in sophistry that isn't even worthy of a junior high school class discussion.
805 posted on 03/26/2003 9:03:51 AM PST by Illbay (Don't believe every tagline you read - including this one)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 804 | View Replies]

To: AZLiberty
The Iraqi man-on-the-street with an AK-47 will be what makes democracy work in Iraq. If he fears coalition liberators more than Saddam's thugs then he will fight us and take his chances; if he wishes freedom for himself and his family, and feels we will not betray his trust, then that AK-47 will be put to good use against the fedayeen and other oppressors...IMHO
806 posted on 03/29/2003 2:36:30 PM PST by bt_dooftlook
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 679 | View Replies]

To: All
bump
807 posted on 05/02/2003 7:51:21 PM PDT by Fractal Trader (Free Republic Energized - - The power of Intelligence on the Internet! Checked by Correkt Spel (TM))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 806 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 741-760761-780781-800801-807 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson