Article

2005-10-27 Iraq

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Posted by Fred 2005-10-27 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 "The al-Sistani associates said the ayatollah's decision to withhold his support from the coalition arose from the government's failure to improve security, services - such as power and water supplies - or end persistent fuel shortages.

Al-Sistani also was concerned about what his associates said was the government's inability to curtail the influence of militias, fight corruption and stop neighboring countries from meddling in Iraq's internal affairs."

Since this came from "spokesmen", not directly from Mr Thousand Yard Stare, who knows if this is what the squirrel really believes --- BUT it would be one hell of an improvement - and I'd be happy to eat a flock of crows if this fool would get behind such ideas and make them happen, not just sit on his Islamic Olympus and mutter to his navel.

I am particularly pleased that this withdrawal of support might end in getting rid of the current crop of moron Shi'ites from the key power positions. They are, in a word, disasters. Utterly without focus or effective plans. Allawi was 100x better, IMHO.

On a cautionary note - fragmenting this Shi'a alliance may be good for the Kurds and the 'semi-secularists' like Allawi, but it could also open up cracks for the infernal Sunnis, too. That really would mean gridlock. Fucking Sunnis.

Cut the Kurds, and any intelligent modern Iraqis who wish to join them, loose from this mess.

Posted by .com 2005-10-27 01:03|| 2005-10-27 01:03|| Front Page Top

#2 This is a big deal, IMHO.

Posted by .com 2005-10-27 01:04|| 2005-10-27 01:04|| Front Page Top

#3 Sistani is right. Security is lame in the southern region and the miltias are prominent in the police, many of the police are captive to the local militas.

Posted by Captain America 2005-10-27 02:58|| 2005-10-27 02:58|| Front Page Top

#4 Sistani is taking the traditional Shia position that politics and religion are different spheres and should be kept apart. The aberation of Iran is that Khomeinei took essentially a Sunni position on that issue. But Najaf isn't Qom and the Iraqi Shia schools have always stressed this point.

Sistani has done a fairly decent job of providing leadership to the Shias while not going back on his apolitical posture IMO.

Posted by lotp 2005-10-27 10:36|| 2005-10-27 10:36|| Front Page Top

#5 i agree with dot com - its a very big deal IF it holds up.

Posted by liberalhawk 2005-10-27 11:30|| 2005-10-27 11:30|| Front Page Top

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