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Moderate Shiites (i.e., friendlies) take control in Karbala
by Dan Murphy, Christian Science MonitorEFL; hat tip: Brothers Judd. The city of Karbala observed the holiday of Arbain this weekend. It marks the end of a 40-day period of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Hussein 1,350 years ago, in the power struggle that created Islamâs Sunni-Shiite divide. . . . But most telling in Karbala this weekend was who was not in charge: the militia of radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Instead, two moderate, cooperating Shiite militias set up layered cordons throughout the city. . . . After a week of fighting between followers of Sadr militants, on the one side, and Bulgarian and Polish troops on the other, milder Shiite militias pushed Sadrâs militia either out of the city or deeply underground. âBout six feet under, I would hope. The vacuum has been filled by the Badr Brigades, controlled by the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq; (which does not sound all that friendly) and militia close to Iraqâs establishment Shiite hierarchy who sometimes call themselves the Helpers of Sistani, after Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, a moderate and Iraqâs most widely respected cleric. . . . Unlike Sadrâs men, these militias arenât likely to make a grab for power by force. But their sponsors do have political demands - and are increasingly weary of the US occupation. Grand Ayatollah Sistani has repeatedly complained that Iraq should have elections much sooner than the current US timetable, scheduled for January 2005. Leaders of SCIRI also say they would like big changes in the US transition plan. They say they worry that Iraqâs Shiites wonât be granted sufficient influence in the transitional government. The Shiites have been repressed for decades by the Baâathist-Sunni elite, so that feeling is entirely understandable. Posted by: Mike 2004-04-12 |
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