Shi'ite vs Shi'ite ? Trouble ahead for US plans to unite Shiites ?

[kentuck]

http://dailynews.att.net/cgi-bin/news?e=pri&dt=030825&cat=news&st=newsiraqdc250707

<snip>
Ayatollah Mohammed Saeed al-Hakim, who was slightly injured in Sunday's bombing, is the uncle of the leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), criticized by some Shi'ites for cooperating with the U.S.-led occupation.

SCIRI said it was the target of the attack, which killed three bodyguards.

<snip>
In Najaf, many in the crowd of at least 2,000 blamed Sunday's bombing on supporters of rival Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr.

"This was Moqtada al-Sadr. His people did it," said 60-year- old Muslim Raadi, following the three wooden coffins.

"Now there will be revenge. The only way to stop this is for the people of Najaf to stop it. We will have to form our own militia."

Sadr's group, which has condemned the U.S.-led occupation, denied the accusation.

<snip>
Tension between rival Shi'ite groups in Najaf, about 90 miles south of Baghdad, has risen since the U.S.-led war that ousted Saddam Hussein on April 9. On April 10, a mob hacked Shi'ite cleric Abdul Majid al-Khoei to death at the Najaf mosque.

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This appears to be the key Iraqi group the Americans are looking to establish a new, friendly government for Iraq. However, the tensions between the rival Shi'ite groups present a challenge for the Iraqi Governing Council. How can they form a government if they are fighting a civil war? But this seems to be the area to watch to measure the progress the US is making in forming a new government.

[newyorican]

1. Doesn't pass the smell test.

Who would benefit? Chalabi. Who backs Chalabi? The Pentagon.

[Mari333]

2. I said this before the Invasion

all the US did was stir up a hornets nest
and our soldiers are caught smack dab in the middle of Hell.