Shiites stick together in Iraq: Cleric rejects plan to isolate extremists, ask for al-Sadr help

[Jcrowley]

Shiites stick together in Iraq: Cleric rejects plan to isolate extremists, ask for al-Sadr help
MOLLY HENNESSY-FISKE and SAAD FAKHRILDEEN
Los Angeles Times

Shiites stick together in Iraq: Cleric rejects plan to isolate extremists, ask for al-Sadr help

NAJAF, Iraq - One of Iraq's most influential Shiite clerics rejected a U.S.-backed proposal to isolate Shiite extremists in the national government, saying the country should govern itself with the help of anti-U.S. firebrand Muqtada al-Sadr, according to politicians who spoke with the cleric Saturday.

Shiite politicians met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in this holy Shiite city, and then said they had thrown their support behind al-Sadr, who demands a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq rather than the temporary increase under consideration in Washington.

"The Sadr movement is part of Iraqi affairs," said Haider Abadi, a leader of Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa party. "We won't allow others to interfere to weaken any Iraqi political movement."

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/16308206.htm

[Kagemusha]

1. By the way, al-Sistani is the MOST influential Shiite cleric in Iraq

He's not "one of the most", he's THE most, bar none. Oh, sure, Sadr's been rising in raw power, as these events CLEARLY demonstrate, but Sistani is no more merely one of the most influential clerics any more than the Pope is merely one of the most influential Catholic priests.

[Igel]

2. Sistani can speak for himself, through his aides.

This article rather clearly does not contain anything directly from the Big Guy himself. It actually sounds quite like a Da'wa press release.

What others say about al-Sistani's opinions and decisions may be accurate. It's also possible that they are self-serving and partial.

Wait for a bit of better reporting.

[Theduckno2]

5. I was just at Juan Cole's website and it seems to state much the same.

His posting referenced an article from the Guardian, though I hadn't read that yet.

http://www.juancole.com/

I find his website illuminating.

He seems to be a great deal more enlightened than Bushco. HaHa

[msongs]

3. why do republicans think they can win IRAQ when they can't win in the USA?

the bush gang couldnt even hold congress for crap sake :-)

Msongs
www.msongs.com
batik and digital art

[sam sarrha]

4. this LINK> will assist in any confusion about what the shiite and Sunni family feud is all about..

http://www.islamfortoday.com/shia.htm

http://www.islamfortoday.com/history.htm

interesting that all the killing is actually Not a Civil War but a 1300 year old family feud.

and we need to stay out of it or both sides will unite against us in perpetuity

[earlybelle]

6. Everyone knows full well that when we invaded Iraq, we handed the nation to the Shiites.

Soon, they will take the US on fully. After they kill all the Sunni or run them out of the country. Then the US will really be in trouble.