I No Longer Have Power To Save Iraq From Civil War, warns Shia leader

[bigtree]

By Gethin Chamberlain and Aqeel Hussein in Baghdad
(Filed: 03/09/2006)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/09/03/wirq03.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_03092006

The most influential moderate Shia leader in Iraq has abandoned attempts to restrain his followers, admitting that there is nothing he can do to prevent the country sliding towards civil war.

Aides say Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani is angry and disappointed that Shias are ignoring his calls for calm and are switching their allegiance in their thousands to more militant groups which promise protection from Sunni violence and revenge for attacks.

"I will not be a political leader any more," he told aides. "I am only happy to receive questions about religious matters."

It is a devastating blow to the remaining hopes for a peaceful solution in Iraq and spells trouble for British forces, who are based in and around the Shia stronghold of Basra.

this is really bad . . .

[Bucky]

1. Shit, if they lose Sistani...

Sistani can't back out. He's obviously distraught and depressed about the whole thing. But if he quits pleading for peace and trying to bring the fighting parties to the table, then the cap's off the bottle for good. I seriously pray Sistani was venting his frustration, not truly giving up working for peace.

You're right... this is terrible news.

[bigtree]

2. just thinking about this

no way his thousands of followers will continue on the political route. He brought the majority of those who actually voted for the new government to the polls, enabling the whole thing to proceed. Now . . .

[UTUSN]

3. Yo Barney? We're not in Kansas any more n/t

[bigtree]

4. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

[Nutmegger]

5. This needs a

:kick:and a:thumbsup:!

[tnlefty]

6. Way to go Bushie** and Cabal! It isn't as though you weren't warned

ahead of time that you would open a Pandora's box. Why was Negroponte sent over to be the ambassador on the heels of the Coaltion Provisional Authority?

People can talk sectarian violence ad nauseum, but I believe more than anything this is a struggle between those who are willing to cooperate with the occupiers and those who aren't.

Flame suit adorned.

[bigtree]

7. without Sistani's 'cooperation' there would be no government

It was Sistani who encouraged and led thousands of his followers to the polls. That's why they have a Shiite dominated regime.

from Asia Times Feb. 2005:

"It was Sistani who demanded speedy elections. He knew what the outcome of that election was going to be. When Bush balked about holding elections, Sistani demonstrated his power by calling on his followers to fill the Iraqi streets in protest. It was he who insisted that the United Nations should be brought back to conduct or to oversee the conducting of elections in Iraq."

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/election/2005/0208sistani.htm

[tnlefty]

8. ? Isn't this what I was stating even if poorly?

The occupation means that women will lose rights, the resources of the country will not be their own (CPA), Negroponte set up death squads 'cause that's what he does best to ensure that the occupation would succeed as planned. And I think there will always be resistance to that occupation.

[Hawkowl]

9. Too late...

I believe this is the end of the beginning. This is probably the most influential man in Iraq, bar none. If he is admitting this in public, it is nothing less than a green light to his followers to pursue a vigorous vendetta against the Sunni.

There will be no chance at peace while U.S. troops are there. Just an upwardly spiralling body count. Hell, it might become so unstable that Haliburton can no longer make a profit and that is when the troops will come home.

[Monk06]

10. Sistani kept the lid on Shia resentment and revenge for three years..

By saying he will only give advice on relious
matters in the future he announced the endgame
of the debacle.

By his announcement he has given formal recognition
that Iraq is in a state of civil war.

Colon Powell said three years ago, "You break it.
You own it." Sistani just signed the deed.

It took the warmongers 5 years to FU Viet Nam another
ten to get out. The Neo Cons are breaking that
record.

Anyone familiar with the Carter administration knows
that he inherited the debts for VN (16% inflation, the
energy crisis, record unemployment) from LBJ and Nixon.

The Repugs make the messes and it's Democrats that have
to clean them up.

Welcome to 1976.

[bigtree]

11. very good perspective

welcome, indeed

[Disturbed]

12. It's straight down to bottom now.

Without al Sistani the Civil War will in all likelyhood expand.

A few days ago the Kurds took down the Iraqi flag and are flying their own.

Basra, the main port city, declared their independence from the Central Govt.

There is a slim chance that the Iraqi Govt. may stave off the Civil War by giving the Sunnis a bigger share of oil profits but that may not appease them.