Iraqi cleric demands cease-fire in Lebanon (al-Sistani)

[allemand]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's top Shiite cleric demanded an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon, warning Sunday that the Muslim world will "not forgive" nations that stand in the way of stopping the fighting.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued the call following the Israeli airstrike that killed at least 56 Lebanese, mostly women and children, in the village of Qana. It was the deadliest attack in nearly three weeks of fighting.

"Islamic nations will not forgive the entities that hinder a cease-fire," al-Sistani said in a clear reference to the United States.

"It is not possible to stand helpless in front of this Israeli aggression on Lebanon," he added. "If an immediate cease-fire in this Israeli aggression is not imposed, dire consequences will befall the region."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060730/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_fighting_sistani_1

[joemurphy]

1. Hmmm....this doesn't sound too good. n/t

[saigon68]

16. The Big Cleric is getting upset

[mom cat]

2. Listen up Bush:

I think they are saying is "Enough already".

[GAPeace]

12. Empire at any cost, buddy!

This is what the Neocons are all about; this is their wet dream.

[mom cat]

19. Bingo!

[bemildred]

3. This is a threat. nt

[Kagemusha]

4. From someone with the authority to make a Shiite Iraqi revolt holy.

It's not good news.

[bemildred]

10. I was thinking that it might be related to the break in the bombing.

Maybe that's too optimistic, but the timing was right.

[Laotra]

21. I and I

I thought the faux "cessation" of bombing was because:

- Siniora giving Condi the finger (and probably Blair too)
- EU growing weary and restless
- Sistani threat
- Blair "loosing it" because of Sistani threat plus his own governement in open revolt, and using ALL his influence on Yo Schrub to get this faux piece of shit "compromise".

But methinks Sistani not satisfied...

[LynnTheDem]

14. Someone with the authority to lay every single American in the ME

6' under. Starting with those currently Iraqmired.

Is bush really so stupid as to ignore al-Sistani's threat???

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Ruh roh

Isn't that our frieeeeeeeeeend in Iraq?

[Kagemusha]

6. No.

I don't know what people here think of Sistani but he is not, and has never been, "our friend" in Iraq. And he might not have lived this long if he was.

[Disturbed]

7. Al Sistani is the leader of the Shi'ites in Iraq.

On his statement a full out Shi'ite action could end the US/UK Occupation.

[LynnTheDem]

15. al-Sistani is Iranian,

and the highest holy man.

And ignoring him is not a good or wise thing to do.

So we know what bush will do...

God help us all.

[Yupster]

8. This could be a good thing

In my opinion, Sistani has been a very mature voice in Iraq among the Shi-ites. Could he be the voice of moderation that the Shi-ites have been needing for so many years?

I wouldn't mind him taking a lead on this thing. I think he has credibility on all sides and I think he means well.

He certainly could have called out the Shi-ite militias to all out Civil War had he been disposed to it. I think instead he's generally been a voice of calm.

[Laotra]

22. Umm

"He certainly could have called out the Shi-ite militias to all out Civil War had he been disposed to it. I think instead he's generally been a voice of calm."

He has not been disposed to it, so far. He kept the lid on sectarian violence for couple years, together with Sadr, despite countless extremely bloody provocations against Shia by AQ/CIA, but the patience has run out and now there's a sectarian civil war in Baghdad, uncontrollable by even Sistani and Sadr, who regardless of their differences have been supporting united Iraq - SCIRI, on the other hand, has been the eager beaver for punishing the Sunni. Sistani called mass demonstrations for elections and got them, and also ended the US+puppet against Sadr by his personal authority.

Sadrists are allready demonstrating in masses, and in occational firefights. If Sistani, close to Amal party in Lebanon, wants to protect his authority, he can't leave the field to Sadr. That means, so far is only so far, and if (or rather when) he calls for mass demonstrations in Iraq, he knows they will not stay very peacefull for a long period, and this time I don't believe that he has much choise but to go with his people, who are boiling with anger - and then the Iraq "governement" has little choise but to join the game. And as a plus side, uniting against occupation forces would help to quell the sectarian violence that is bleeding Iraq worse than anything else... while there are also plenty of signs of US trying to switch over to the Sunni side.

[IndianaGreen]

9. This is a very important story that allemand has posted

Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani has been instrumental in keeping the Shia from attacking our troops in Iraq. Now he sees the US become a partner in Israel's slaughter of the Shia of Lebanon and the laying waste to that country. If Al-Sistani demands a cease-fire, we should oblige him, or face the bloody consequences afterwards.

Great find, allemand!

[ShockediSay]

11. Sistani, is the most moderate, most allied to US, we have.

[LynnTheDem]

13. Oooh boy. Yeah bush, ignore al-Sistani.

You have a nice deep bunker to hide in, dontcha, bubble-boy.

[Eugene]

17. AP News Analysis: Iraq Supporting Lebanon

AP News Analysis: Iraq Supporting Lebanon

Monday July 31, 2006 11:31 AM

By ROBERT H. REID

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Many American politicians were surprised by Iraqi Prime Minister
Nouri al-Maliki's criticism of Israel's attacks on Lebanon. They need only look
at the stance taken by Iraq's top Shiite spiritual leader to understand why al-Maliki
cannot stand with the U.S. in the crisis.

On Sunday, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani condemned the "Israeli aggression" and warned
that "Islamic nations will not forgive the entities that hinder a cease-fire" - a clear
reference to the United States. His statement came after an Israeli airstrike that killed
56 people, mostly women and children, in the southern Lebanese village of Qana.

Al-Maliki's comments came five days earlier, but it was no secret that the grand ayatollah
and the rest of the Shiite clerical leadership strongly opposed Israel's offensive - and
supported their fellow Shiites in Hezbollah.

-snip-

But it is the position of the Shiite clerical leadership, especially al-Sistani, that carries
the most weight. The very legitimacy of al Maliki's alliance of Shiite parties rests with the
frail, aged al-Sistani.

-snip-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5984492,00.html

[0007]

18. I feel a draft in order to protect the military installations in the ME.

[IndianaGreen]

20. A kick, because this is one warning that we must take to heart

Put your Bibles down, for that GAWD ain't gonna save you from man's stupidity in the Middle East.