Some Sunnis in Iraq have a plan for peace

[ECH1969]

With sectarian violence reaching new extremes, some Sunni Muslim clerics are breaking with the most militant factions in their sect and reaching out to Shiite clergy in an effort to pull Iraq back from the abyss. snip.

Sumaidaie said more than 70 clerics across Iraq want to form a new religious council that can unite all Sunni factions and open a channel of communication with Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the country's most revered Shiite cleric.

Without it, he said, "we will never be able to stop the bloodshed in Iraq." Some top Sunni leaders are resisting the idea because they fear being marginalized, Sumaidaie said, accusing them of running the association like a dictatorship. But he predicted that the council would be officially founded within weeks.

In defiance of national leaders, Sunni clerics representing the association in Basra, Nasiriya, Amarah and Samawah issued religious edicts Wednesday banning the killing of all Iraqis, supporting reconstruction of a revered Shiite shrine and disavowing "any terrorist organization targeting the innocent blood of our people."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-sunnis30nov30,0,4114207.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Robbien]

1. A month or so ago Sistani said he was dropping out of politics

That the situation was hopeless. I wonder if this group is actually talking to Sistani, or just hoping to talk with him.

[tridim]

2. At least someone has a plan for peace.

It'll certainly never come from our current leadership.

[Kagemusha]

3. The article says "Shiite clergy", but they mean Sadr, right?

Because I am certain I remember Sadr personally and loudly calling for this...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. We should support anyone who is trying to work for peace

One thing that makes Islam different from Christianity is that there is really no hierarchy of leadership-just clerics and spiritual leaders with followers. If some of the Sunnis can work with some of the Shia and work out this council, something good may come of it.

[pscot]

5. I think they may be a little late

They refused to join the elected government when they had the chance. They, more than anyone, fed the insurgency that's driving us out. They had the most to gain from a unity government, since they number only about 20% of the population. They pissed in their own messkit. It's hard to feel much sympathy for them.

[independentpiney]

6. Never too late for peace, and how's that gov't working out? n/t

[fredsanford]

7. Or they could move to a safer place

Like the Sudan. (sarcasm)