The most powerful man in Iraq is an ayatollah with a website

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1480594,00.html

THE most powerful man in Iraq sits on the floor of a modest room, off a narrow alley in a provincial city south of Baghdad. His gown is dark and threadbare. His face is sandwiched betweeen a long white beard and a black turban. On the rare occasions that he leaves his home, it is to pray at the nearby shrine of Imam Ali, the founder of Shia Islam, in Najaf.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al- Sistani has never met an American official or soldier. He did not vote in Iraq’s elections last month. And yet this religious recluse could wield more influence over Iraq’s destiny than all the foreign troops and Iraqi politicians put together.

The Shia List, which he endorsed, looks certain to be the biggest group in Iraq’s new 275-strong assembly when the election results are announced any day now. It will therefore be the dominant voice in the formation of a new government and the drafting of a new constitution. That means the 74-year-old cleric is likely to play a key role in determining whether Iraq becomes an Islamic state or a secular democracy and whether its rival communities peacefully co-exist or sink into sectarian conflict.

Anyone doubting Ayatollah al-Sistani’s influence should consider the key events of the past year. The huge Shia turnout in January’s election was the result of his simple fatwa instructing the faithful that voting was a religious duty.

That the elections were held at all was largely due to him. When the US-led coalition proposed a transfer of power without letting the people cast their ballots, a single edict from Ayatollah al-Sistani brought hundreds of thousands of Shia protesters on to the streets until the Americans backed down.

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[jazzjunkysue]

1. Here's the scenario from our own US gov website, pre war:

http://www.cfr.org/background/background_iraq_shiites2.php

So, it's not like it was a surprise.

Thus, ends our first lesson in bringing democracy to the world. Let them vote, and they'll expose you for what you are: A lying, murdering thief.

Wait till some general splains that to the Murderer in Chief. Turns out, they don't want to be Pittsburgh, they want to be Iran.

"Johnny, tell them what they've won!"

"Congratulations! You've just won an all-expense-paid trip to the 12th century!"

[whatelseisnew]

2. Remember this "Mr Bremer, you are American...

The Iranian who would bring peace to Iraq

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1233755,00.html

World News

August 26, 2004
The Iranian who would bring peace to Iraq
By Andrew Cockburn
A profile of the 73-year-old Iranian-born ayatollah who is trying to bring peace to the holy Iraqi city of Najaf.

...
Ayatollah al-Sistani remained politically aloof during last year's war, declining either to condemn or endorse the coalition's presence in Iraq. But last June he dropped a bombshell, issuing a ruling that declared the American plan to have a new constitution written by an unelected committee unacceptable and demanding that any new constitution be written by an elected assembly.

Eventually persuaded that this edict might be serious, Paul Bremer, then Iraq's American administrator, requested a meeting with Ayatollah al-Sistani, which was refused.

Mr Bremer then requested that the Ayatollah nominate representatives to meet his officials to negotiate a compromise. "Mr Bremer, you are American. I am Iranian. I suggest we leave it to the Iraqis to devise their constitution," the Ayatollah replied.