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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Khatami Distances Iran From Sadr
2004-04-11
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami yesterday distanced Iran from the latest violent developments in Iraq under the leadership of radical Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr, saying there was no connection between Iran and radical Shiites.
Is that just Khatami talking, or have the Big Black Turbans decided that Moqtada's going down and they're cutting the cord?
IRNA news agency quoted Khatami as saying that the latest violence and kidnapping in Iraq harms the general image of Islam and Muslims.
Which is already pretty battered...
The president stressed that Iran supports the moderate policies of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), headed by Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim, and Shiite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani. Both Sistani and Al-Hakim are known to be openly supported by Tehran but at the same time regarded as political rivals of Sadr. Iran, said Khatami, was one of the first countries to acknowledge the Governing Council in Baghdad. But he added that violence and tension would continue and escalate unless the US ends its occupation and allows the Iraqi people to determine their political fate. The president had earlier this week condemned the attacks by US- led coalition forces on Shiites in southern Iraq, describing them as contrary to their initial claims of bringing freedom and democracy to the country.
Posted by:Fred

#13  I just got one question. Why is Sadr still alive or not in jail? How come we do not have him clean shaven and covered in pig grease? Are we just waiting for the pilgrims to get the heck out of the way? Or are we just waiting on things to cool down a little?
Posted by: Long Hair Republican   2004-04-11 9:52:57 PM  

#12  "latest violence and kidnapping in Iraq harms the general image of Islam and Muslims."

Naaaaahhhhh, It fits right in with the blinders off
Posted by: Frank G   2004-04-11 9:44:21 PM  

#11  Seafarious, For something this important you have to use horse entrails....
Posted by: CrazyFool   2004-04-11 9:40:37 PM  

#10  I suspect they might be having it both ways: supporting him, in case he actually wins, and counseling sweet reason against the likelihood he loses.
Posted by: Fred   2004-04-11 8:26:10 PM  

#9  Carl in NH, your tea leaves are a little fuzzy, so I'd like you to look over these goat entrails. If you can't get a better reading, here's my Magic 8-Ball...
Posted by: Seafarious   2004-04-11 7:48:26 PM  

#8  Khatami's a figurehead, anyway -- the real power is held by Khamenei and the Guardian Council.
Posted by: snellenr   2004-04-11 5:27:16 PM  

#7  Good, the f#@$*&% are starting to panick, lets try to make that a lot worse.
Posted by: Evert Visser in NL   2004-04-11 4:35:17 PM  

#6  B - Good choice of lyrics, Lol! Here's my lyrical rejoinder!

Keep all the food lines moving
Don't come crying for more
The signs were there
You should've bought connections before.

Black Hats: tick... tock... *BOOM*
Posted by: .com   2004-04-11 3:44:23 PM  

#5  Agree with .com. I'd say from that other article today about Sadr's connections with Iran - that Khatami's assurances are too little, too late and too lame.

Ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe...'
it don't matter anyhow
and it ain't no use to sit and wonder why babe
if you don't know by now...

the cat's out of the bag. Pandora's out of the box - and there isn't a do over here for Iran or Khatami.

They showed their hand when they played the Sadr card. We'll plan our future moves accordingly.
Posted by: B   2004-04-11 3:35:31 PM  

#4  Their support of Sadr hasn't been all that covert. That they're backing and covering now indicates they think he's going to lose, and some of the captured jihadis will rat them out for their sponsorship and training in Iran.

From their fears to Allah's ears. Soon.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2004-04-11 3:20:34 PM  

#3  It's tough to get a read on this from the article, but this could be a good thing: Iran might signalling that they are stepping back from their covert support of Sadr et al.

Of course, I admit much wishful thinking there.

Say, what do *you* make of these tea leaves ?
Posted by: Carl in NH   2004-04-11 2:32:46 PM  

#2  The Black Hats have played him - he's proven to be a dud - you gotta know when to fold.
Posted by: .com   2004-04-11 1:59:22 PM  

#1  The president stressed that Iran supports the moderate policies of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), headed by Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim, and Shiite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.

Both Sistani and Al-Hakim are known to be openly supported by Tehran but at the same time regarded as political rivals of Sadr. Iran, said Khatami, was one of the first countries to acknowledge the Governing Council in Baghdad.

My first instinct is, "He lies like a rug." My second instinct is, even if he doesn't, it doesn't matter; I'm beginning to think, as per my comments in the comments to the election post further down, that the US made a mistake in the way the governing council was selected; it should have been done more out of concern for the Iraqis and less for the concern of the various foreign factions who want to control Iraq.
Posted by: Phil Fraering   2004-04-11 1:21:17 PM  

00:00