Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: michael97123 who wrote (157035)	1/26/2005 1:46:09 PM
From: one_less	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Al-Sadr's father was a high Shi'ite Islamic scholar in Iraq that had a huge following. Saddam had him and two of his son's killed along with others when his popularity became a threat. The younger Moqtada Al-Sadr was not a scholar and has no credentials other than being the son of a popular scholar. However, he has capitalized on that fame. He began to preach to the locals that he is in touch with the Mahdi who is preparing to reveal himself in the near future. The Mahdi is a Quranic figure of prophesy who is recognised by both Shi'ite and Suni Muslims (slightly different scenario) as an end times figure. He will pray with Jesus in Mecca and will lead the establishment of the correct World religion. The Shi'ites believe that Mahdi has been present for centuries communicating with Shi'ite leaders in an invisible state. Al-Sadr told his followers that the real reason the Americans are in Iraq is to murder the Mahdi when he reveals himself and so they need to prepare for this spectacular confrontation... Ta da he called for the development of the army of Mahdi, that is, the Al-Mahdi army. When the Al-Sadr insurgency was crushed, he held up in the most famous Mosque of the Shi-ite faith. We agreed to let him go if he would pursue a political path to accomplishing his goals. On his departure, he declared the Al-Mahdi army to be intact. So, unlike all other insurgents the principle was not arrested and the forces were not disbanded. Recently Al-Sadr has voiced some refusal to cooperate with the elections but that could change.