Article

2004-08-25 Iraq-Jordan

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Posted by Paul Moloney 2004-08-25 4:51:24 AM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Surely such a rigorous activity would be considered inadvisable for someone recently having undergone angioplasty?

Posted by Howard UK 2004-08-25 4:55:17 AM|| 2004-08-25 4:55:17 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Someone should make sure the old man is "delayed" at Heathrow for a few days. Well I am sure he isn't doing any walking. I don't trust Sadr to not harm the old geezer.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-08-25 4:57:00 AM|| 2004-08-25 4:57:00 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 what the??

Posted by B 2004-08-25 5:02:10 AM|| 2004-08-25 5:02:10 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 How about we check on this old mans phones call while he was away. I bet a few came from Iran.
This is some fishy sheite.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-08-25 5:26:47 AM|| 2004-08-25 5:26:47 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 is it possible that Sistiani really did need heart surgery and all of this delay was to wait until he could get back and do something like this?

Take the mosque...now.

Posted by B 2004-08-25 5:29:53 AM|| 2004-08-25 5:29:53 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 My guess is that Sistani is concerned about two things: damage to the shrine and, of greater importance, the possibility that Sadr will be so badly defeated that the Shias lose an opportunity to have free elections and political power.

Posted by rkb 2004-08-25 7:55:42 AM|| 2004-08-25 7:55:42 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Muahahhahaaa, good news, seems that all Shia's are begining to like you

Posted by Murat 2004-08-25 8:17:00 AM|| 2004-08-25 8:17:00 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 Iraqthemodel and some other Iraqi bloggers have reported that in Najaf itself the mood is very anti-Sadr and even pro American (the Shiites in Sadr city are of course pro Sadr and anti American).

Also, Sistani is said to be very worried that Sadr has stolen or damaged some of the heirlooms in the shrine.

Btw, the building itself is probably not considered particularly holy (it wasn't built until the 16th century or so)which may be why there has not been an outcry against the Sadr forces using the building as, basically, a military asset.

The part of the shrine that is considered holy is the portion near the place of burial of "Ali the saint". Also, I assume the heirlooms are probably considered sacred.

Posted by mhw 2004-08-25 8:31:03 AM|| 2004-08-25 8:31:03 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 Eyebrows raised that the "firebrand" cleric is no longer "firebrand." Why would this affect free elections, rkb? Suggest total shunning of Murat or this would-be Murat.

Posted by Tom 2004-08-25 9:05:22 AM|| 2004-08-25 9:05:22 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 I think this may be good news. I have a feeling Sistani is requesting this as a show of force to the radicals that the holy city will not be hijacked by thugs again.

I imagine now that as soon as peace is restored that the coalition will begin major reconstruction efforts.

Posted by Atropanthe 2004-08-25 9:05:35 AM|| 2004-08-25 9:05:35 AM|| Front Page Top

#11 Funnier still is the latest nonsense from Fox 'news' who have taken to using the phrse 'Anti-Iraqi' to describe anyone who fails to appreciate the new happy democracy riddling their country.. Ya couldn't make it up.. Still, raises a smile whenever I pop in from the BBC... Kisses..

Posted by Kron 2004-08-25 9:07:20 AM|| 2004-08-25 9:07:20 AM|| Front Page Top

#12 The man is smart. Using us to beat up on an opponent, then using our fear of igniting all Shia's to look like he's the one taking the city from the Americans, knowing we won't attack a peaceful march. Kick those idiot's out of the Mosque before he can start the march and then leave, and let him have it. Let's get our victory first.

Posted by plainslow 2004-08-25 9:17:24 AM|| 2004-08-25 9:17:24 AM|| Front Page Top

#13 my guess is this is more of an internal power play on the part of Sistani. Wants to come back and show he's still the big dog of the Shia.

Posted by AllahHateMe 2004-08-25 9:59:05 AM|| 2004-08-25 9:59:05 AM|| Front Page Top

#14 AHM, agree, now that US has done the heavy lifting he can offer Tater's tots a way out alive and then sit on the Tater or help him be in an unlucky place at the wrong time. This could work out well for us all.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2004-08-25 10:23:06 AM|| 2004-08-25 10:23:06 AM|| Front Page Top

#15 Not quite opening the champagne bottle on this one. What, we're supposed to feel pleased and relaxed that hypnotic religious adoration is being transferred from one religious nutcase to another? We need to snuff out religious hypnotism in the Middle East, not encourage it.

Posted by jules 187 2004-08-25 10:37:10 AM|| 2004-08-25 10:37:10 AM|| Front Page Top

#16 sistani might not be who id choose for a spiritual advisor, and its a bad sign that so many Iraqis look to him for POLITICAL guidance, but he doesnt seem to be a nutcase.

OTOH he IS rather on the devious side, or so it seems. While his giving Tater a less dishonourable way to surrender may help us in the short run, we (and Allawi) need to keep in mind that Sistani is playing his own game, and watch for attempts to use this for his own advantage.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-08-25 10:54:32 AM|| 2004-08-25 10:54:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#17 "we (and Allawi) need to keep in mind that Sistani is playing his own game, and watch for attempts to use this for his own advantage."

>Wheels w/in wheels. The fact is that Islam is their politics.

Posted by Jarhead 2004-08-25 10:57:59 AM|| 2004-08-25 10:57:59 AM|| Front Page Top

#18 The fact is that Islam is their politics

Broadly I agree with you, but let me quibble a bit. kurdish politics is largely secularist, and there ARE secularist elements in Iraqi arab politics - among the educated upper classes in Baghdad (thus all our secularist Iraqi bloggers). The Iraqi Communist Party traditionally represented a secularist movement among the Shiite urban working class, but they were underground for the last 30 years or so. Currently they are supporting the Allawi govt (and yes I know the Eurocoms dont seem in synch with this, and I DONT know how the Eurocoms reconcile this.)

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-08-25 11:02:20 AM|| 2004-08-25 11:02:20 AM|| Front Page Top

#19 LH> I was referring to Sistani/Sadr and the organized religion component in Iraq. The educated elite are pretty much what you say. Saddam imo was also a secularist and then only played the "muslim warrior" when it was politically expedient. As for the kurds, I'm not too familiar w/their leanings.

Posted by Jarhead 2004-08-25 11:09:22 AM|| 2004-08-25 11:09:22 AM|| Front Page Top

#20 Eyebrows raised that the "firebrand" cleric is no longer "firebrand." Why would this affect free elections, rkb?

Sistani has regularly signalled that his primary concern is free elections, in which the Shia population might be expected to gain power for the first time in many year. Sadr's uprising, his alignment with some of the Sunni insurgents and the number of deaths have led Allawi to get tough.

If I were Sistani, I would worry that the result will be that Allawi's hand is strengthened in martial law and elections might be postponed. That is NOT an outcome Sistani wants to see.

Posted by rkb 2004-08-25 11:21:12 AM|| 2004-08-25 11:21:12 AM|| Front Page Top

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