latest bin Laden admin/media "stand in", Zarqawi, isn't he a Sunni?

[pinto]

and I assume Osama is a Shiite.

If that's right, and not a hole in my recall, wouldn't there be a disconnect in the strings the admin claims run from one to the other?
I haven't seem a mention of religious/ethnic "context" in the media for a while (duh).

Can someone refresh the claim and the reality a little, if possible? thanks, pinto

[Tempest]

1. He's believed to be Palestinian

Born in Jordan.

http://tinyurl.com/5rvmn

[ECH1969]

2. Both Bin Laden and Zarqawi are Sunni Whabbists

They hate Shiites as much or more then they hate us.

[Guaranteed]

6. Why didn't bin Laden get along with Saddam, then?

And what's with this religious war bin Laden's waging?

Or, is it even religious?

[RafterMan]

7. Osama regards the Nasserite/Ba'athists

as MINOs.

[ECH1969]

8. Saddam was non-religious

He may have been Sunni in name but he was totally secular. Allawi has been in the same boat with the hard core religious Shia in Iraq. He may be a Shiite, but he is non-religious so they see him as the enemy.

[Igel]

9. Saddam was secular, and OBL called for his overthrow.

During the '90s Saddam pulled a Stalin. Sunni Arabs have a strong Salafi strain, and Saddam needed support: he started funding mosques, added the Islamic bit to the Iraq flag, and generally cozied up to the Sunni Arab ulema. Saddam was conspicuously visible at prayers and put on all the appropriate religious trappings that the Arab Sunni ulema admired so much. (During WWII Stalin cozied up to the Orthodox church, restored some, and generally pretended that the entire subjugation and persecution of the Orthodox was some sort of horrible misunderstanding.)

If you read most of OBL's texts, it's religious. With a "our honor has been besmirched" spin put on it all. Bah. Salafis.

[pinto]

10. the Wahabis are "fundamentalist" Shiites from Saudi Arabia. As is Osama,

from Saudi Arabia and a Wahabi Shiite.

I should have been more clear.

I think the link touted in this country between Zarqawi and bin Laden smells, because I read recently Zarqawi is a Sunni.

That's where I was going with my question.

[RafterMan]

11. No, Wahabis are NOT Shiites

al Wahab thought of Shiites as polytheistic apostates because of their worship of saints and tombs. Even sacked a few, if I recall correctly.

There is no such thing as a Wahabi Shiite.

[ECH1969]

12. No, SA is full of Sunnis not Shiites

[CJCRANE]

3. Bin Laden is a a wahhabist

which is Sunni too. But not long ago a story was planted in the media that Bin Laden was in Iran, which couldn't really happen as Iran is a shi'ite country.

[ECH1969]

5. There has been alot of stories about Bin Laden's location

I remember China and India coming up at one time of course the Freepers think he is living in France.

[Adderall552]

4. Osama is a

Sunni Muslim and Zarqawi is a Jordanian born Sunni.

[pinto]

13. No, bin Laden is a Wahhabi Shiite, from Saudi Arabia. Guess I was unclear

about my question...which mainly concerns the "evil stand in" Zarqawi.

I read Zarqawi was a Sunni, and while not secular, he seems an odd ally for a strict Wahhabi Shiite from Saudi Arabia....y'know?

[RafterMan]

14. See post 11

[pinto]

15. SORRY ALL, yes there is a hole in my recall, thanks. Now it's clearer.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/40241_islamsects.shtml


Sunni and Shiite Sects
Tuesday, September 25, 2001


There are two major Islamic sects: Sunni and Shiite. The two groups are very similar, although the Shiites exalt their Imams as a line of inspired teachers. The two sects have also had sharp political differences. The split stems from the early days of Islam and arguments over Mohammed's successors as caliph or leader.


Sunni comprise about 85 percent of all Muslims. Nations with Sunni majority include Egypt, Saudi Arabia and most other Arab nations, as well as non-Arab Turkey and Afghanistan. Most Palestinian Muslims are Sunni.


Shiite are the second-largest sect. Iran is the only nation with an overwhelming Shiite majority. Iraq, Lebanon and Bahrain also have large Shiite communities.

[pinto]

16. Chagrined here. Thanks for the reality check. I had a playbook fade, sorry

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/40241_islamsects.shtml


Sunni and Shiite Sects
Tuesday, September 25, 2001


There are two major Islamic sects: Sunni and Shiite. The two groups are very similar, although the Shiites exalt their Imams as a line of inspired teachers. The two sects have also had sharp political differences. The split stems from the early days of Islam and arguments over Mohammed's successors as caliph or leader.


Sunni comprise about 85 percent of all Muslims. Nations with Sunni majority include Egypt, Saudi Arabia and most other Arab nations, as well as non-Arab Turkey and Afghanistan. Most Palestinian Muslims are Sunni.


Shiite are the second-largest sect. Iran is the only nation with an overwhelming Shiite majority. Iraq, Lebanon and Bahrain also have large Shiite communities.

[Moderator]

17. I'm locking this at the original posters request

:hi: