Wednesday, March 10, 2004 :::
 
There is more from today immediately following. Here is one extra thought:

Regular readers know that this writer is plagued by one thought about Iraq? Why is it that no one can say clearly what is meant by saying that Shi'ites traditionally favor a separation of mosque and state? Frankly, the very most prominent source of conservative comment referred to Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani as belonging to a "quietist" sect. Doubting that they really knew enough to say that, this writer did a quick search of the indispensable MEMRI website, and found a quote from al-Sistani for all intents and purposes threatening the US with armed insurrection. "I am under so much pressure, but I have resisted. Yet I cannot resist the calls for resistance forever." That kind of thing. Delivered fairly promptly after Saddam got captured. Perhpas someone could explain what they mean by the word "quietist" when applying it to Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani.

One journalist, Steven Vincent, has struggled to find out, and he wrote this interesting piece last week. Also, the increasingly indispensable Strategic Studies Center at the U.S. Army War College has now published a report, The United States and Iraq's Shi'ite Clergy: Partners or Adversaries?, that covers the ground quite well.

::: posted by A Mind That Suits at 1:59 PM


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What doesn't kill me, makes me laugh... usually.