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

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (257329)	2/22/2008 9:28:49 PM
From: SARMAN	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 281500

Naturally Hizbullah is their model, it's been a huge success for the Ayatollahs. If it wasn't for the blood thirsty Israelis and their rabid murderous ways, there would not had been a Hizbullah. Check you facts. Hint, 1982. So you see Nadine, Israel never been a friend of America.

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (257329)	2/23/2008 6:12:31 PM
From: one_less	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

”What a bizarre claim.” Bizarre it may be but it is the facts of history none the less. ”What a bizarre claim. The ayatollahs were never against him.” I didn’t say the ayatollahs were against him, I said Iran tried to take him out. Iran isn’t really one mind frame but more specifically the Badr Brigade tried to take him out. This is the organization that initially organized in Iraq to lead the revolution of 1979 in Iran that deposed the Shaw and supported the current rulers, and is still supported by the current rulers, having remained in Iran. They were also seen as instrumental to the US coalition forces in bringing down Saddam. They fought along side Iran in the Iran-Iraq war. The Al-Sadrs supported their militant opposition to Saddam. The Badr Brigade strength has been estimated at 50,000 men. However, things haven’t always been cozy between him and some of the Iyatollahs. Charges for murder were brought against Muqtada for the death of Abdul Majid al-Khoei, the son of Grand Ayatollah Abul-Qassim Khoei. Those charges seem to have been rescinded however. He has relied on an Iranian Iyatollah to establish his religious authority. This person is the Ayatollah Kazem al-Haeri, who is exiled from Iran and lives in Iraq. Muqtada's father was a respected religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr… as was his father in law, the Grand Iyatollah Mohammad Baqir As-Sadr, was also executed by Saddam. Moktada has managed to accomplish two things with regards to the ayatollahs. He kicked Grand Ayatollah Sistani out of Iraq for a couple of reasons, most significant is that he thought Sistani was a weakling for not continuing to claim religious authority over Saddam after the death of his father. Sistani returned to Iraq but not in defiance of Muqtada, he returned in support of Muqtada, while keeping his options open if Muqtada went down. Sistani and others taught that preaching about having authority over political leaders is not necessary under tyranny, now many have reversed that view and are considered consequently, Sadrists . So far Muqtada has been able to do several things his father and other religious authorities before him have not. He has been able to include the quiet clerics who merely teach as scholars of religion, as well as the clerics who assume their authority over politicians and of course all those who follow either as Sadrists. Moqtada has modified his tactics over time with several goals in mind. The primary goal is the supremacy of the Mehdi Army to establish Islamic society. He has been very straight about a goal to rid Iraq of foreign occupiers and has worked in stages toward that end. He began with peaceful protests to occupation and passive resistance followed by militant resistance. In 2003 he immediately established a shadow government in what is now Sadr City. He initially failed at military insurgency but told his military followers numbering in the hundreds at that time, they could never disban because they are the Mehdi’s army. He instructed them to spread the word, recruit and organize in the silence of the shadows, which they have done and continue to do quite successfully. Next he initiated political resistance, combined with pacification of the region (vote but don’t support the politicians who cooperate with the US, vote Sadrists into government positions who will undermine the western influence). There is now a significant Sadrist block of representatives in government. It is clear to everyone that if the region becomes relatively passive and the government moves to have the occupation ended we will have no legitimate right to remain as occupiers. He has broadened the definition of Mehdi Army to include as part of that definition a cultural army. The silent development of power and authority intends to mislead you into believing he is harmless. You’ve obviously been duped into buying it.