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Iraq
Sistani supports govÂ’t measures to impose rule of law-Iraqi PM
2008-05-23
Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki on Thursday said top Shiite cleric Ali Sistani expressed his support to the government measures taken to impose the rule of law.

PM Al-Maliki paid a visit to Najaf’s Shiite shrine and top cleric Sistani days after overseeing anew assault in Mosul to crack down on al-Qaeda. “Talks with Sistani centred on issues serving Iraq”, said PM office statement received by Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq(VOI).

The PM noted “the religious authority supported the government measures in imposing the rule of law”, adding “he stressed the importance of holding weapons by government forces only, delivering services and carrying out reconstruction projects”.

Iraqi PM has lately launched two major offensives in Basra and Mosul to crack down on violence wracking the two provinces.
Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC

#2  Hard for me to imgagine Sistani has much affection for the marble-mouthed pretender to Shi'a scholarship, whose outfit was so popular the last time it dominated Sistani's hometown of Najaf that the locals were moved to capping straggling JAM members on their own initiative even before the US and the Iraqis moved in to wipe them out (er, fight them to a "standoff", in MSM parlance).

The dynamics that boosted JAM, as defender of the Shi'a, were driven entirely by Sunni barbarism and terror, accompanied by US passivity, in 2005 and early 2006. When the combo of Sunni switcheroo and demonstration of US will (the surge) turned the tables, mookie's oxygen supply suddenly was nearly choked off.
Posted by: Verlaine   2008-05-23 12:03  

#1  given that neither of the two seemingly contradictory positions come from the horses own mouth, so to speak, its not that surprising they contradict. Clearly he IS concerned about a gang up of Americans, sunnis, and seculars on Sadr accompanied by a break up of Shia unity, apparently instigated by teh Americans. OTOH when maliki walks on and hands him a laundry list of Sadrs crimes and a detail of the situation on the ground in Basra before and after, its kinda hard for Sistani to say "we shoulda left the thugs in control of Basra"

Interesting chess game Maliki is playing, to keep Sistani in line.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-05-23 09:16  

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