(Sistani) Shiite cleric warns of 'genocidal war'

[sabra]

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http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050719-021007-4066r

Shiite cleric warns of 'genocidal war'
By UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

BAGHDAD -- The most influential Shiite cleric in Iraq says the slaughter of hundreds of civilians by suicide bombers points to a "genocidal war" threatening the country.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who issued the warning, has so far been able to restrain his followers from attacking Sunnis, from among whom the bombers are recruited, Britain's Independent newspaper reported Tuesday.

However, sectarian divisions between the Shiites and Sunnis are deepening across Iraq after the recent killing of 18 children in the district of New Baghdad, the report said.

...

Against the wishes of the cleric, some Shiites have started retaliatory killings of members of the former regime, the report said.

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[Kikosexy2]

1. Civil ...

war...here it comes!!

[sabra]

2. all signs are pointing in that direction...

[Barrett808]

3. But Iraq will have a new constitution in a few weeks

Then we will have truly turned the corner. For real this time. Really. Why are you looking at me like that?

[expatriot]

4. I don't the full context of his statements but....

it doesn't sound like he's trying too hard anymore to keep the Shia from fighting back.... "genocidal war" sounds like something you'd want to defend yourself against.

[patcox2]

7. Its very hard to understand, probably poorly translated.

If Sistani thought the Sunnis were already engaged in a genocidal war against Shia, he could have said so. I think he was actually threatening the Sunni minority, hinting that if he didn't hold them back, the majority Shia would commit genocide. Essentially, he seemed to be saying "keep it up, sunnis, and you'll incite genocide against yourselves"

[Javaman]

5. What I find amusing about all of this is...

Once upon a time, the excuse for not pulling the troops out was that it would cause a civil war. Well, lookie here, it's happening right under the fucking noses of our troops.

So why are we there???

[bikeboy]

6. So why are we there???

Can we all say 14 bases paid for with stolen loot from the former thief, oops friend oops...and good ole dickie smiles away, go boy's go!

[Robeson]

10. Yep, the U.S. is trying to maintain military hegemony in the oil rich...

...Middle East. And in order to do it, those bases are going to remain. Freedom and Democracy is just a smokescreen. We'd just as easily prop up a strongman or dictator, as long as he was OUR handpicked strongman or dictator.

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. "Let civil war & chaos reign!"

[daleo]

9. Bush...gates of Hell...well, you know. n/t