Shiites, Join Sunnis in Solidarity March

[Emillereid]

Wednesday March 3, 2004 10:31 PM
By HAMZA HENDAWI

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Shiite clerics joined Sunni preachers in a march of thousands of mostly black-clad men Wednesday, trying to keep sectarian passions in check after a horrific attack on Shiite pilgrims that raised fears of civil war.

<snip>

The attacks - at some of the holiest shrines of Shiite Islam and on the most sacred day in the Shiite calendar - threatened to turn Shiites against Sunnis if the bombers were found to have been Iraqi Sunni extremists.

But strife with the country's Sunni minority would hardly be in the interests of the Shiites, who stand on the verge of achieving their dream of real political power after generations of suppression. Civil war would threaten those dreams, and the community's influential clergy appeared eager to keep passions in check.
<snip>

``What happened yesterday is indescribable,'' Salah Abu Mahdi said as he served Iranian pilgrims at his grocery story in Kazimiya. ``We and the Sunnis have always lived in peace.''
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3818376,00.html

Seems that the effort to split the sunnis and shiites is failing -- now who would benefits from a civil war and the fragmentation of Iraq? I don't see how Al Queda would benefit -- and they have come out and denied any responsibility. Would Iran benefit? The US? I remember some of the neo-cons talking opening before the war of the advantages of a fragmented, broken Iraq. This attack just doesn't make sense -- of does it?

[starroute]

1. The answer no one wants to think about is Israel

I don't know how likely an answer it is -- but Israel is the only party that might benefit from a fragmented Iraq. And you can bet the Iraqis are thinking that same thing.

As much as I dislike blaming the Israelis, I dislike even more the possibility that Americans might be blinding themselves to the truth if it is the Israelis. *Someone* is determined to sow chaos in Iraq, and until we know who it is, we're at their mercy.

[Jazzgirl]

6. I hate to say it starroute but I thought the same thing.

The first thing I thought was "hmmm.....wonder if Moussad is up to its old tricks?" I hate to say it but wouldn't be surprised.

Jazzgirl

[KerrySupporter]

9. good point. it must be israel causing the chaos

i think kerry will abandon israel and their terror ways once he is in. i just hope we can survive the terror that israel is commiting until then.

[DieboldMustDie]

2. Just like * told us...

He's a uniter, not a divider.   So now he's united Shiites and Sunnis, something no one else has been able to do in more than 1300 years.   I must apologize; I mis-underestimated him.

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. Well, let's see. Who's making money off Iraq?

[Barrett808]

4. Many Iraqis think the US is responsible, directly or indirectly

So these attacks benefit the insurgency, by driving the wedge more deeply between the Iraqis and US.

[Just Me]

5. Occam's Razor,...that simple explanation does ring true.

In the view of the Iraqi people, there is, after all, only one occupier. It matters not "who" is actually responsible for the attacks anymore. The Iraqis must unite as a single force to maintain possession over their country.

[orwell]

7. Profit Motive

Would you start the civil war already, BushCo is losing money.

What are they going to do with all the spiffy bullets and bombs they have stockpiled?

O

[Just Me]

10. Actually, BushCo has heavy ties into the military industrial complex,..

,...as you should certainly know. Hell, their ties go way back even before the infamous Carlyle Group which collects big bucks and would continue making a killing under a "privatization" cabal ruling this country! They are akin to a virus/bacteria that consumes human life,...in their own unique way.

[Joanne98]

8. How cool

I wonder what they've been reading.