Megyn Kelly to McCain: “Do you understand the difference between Sunni and Shia?”
posted at 8:02 pm on April 9, 2008 by Allahpundit
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A softball made necessary by yesterday’s kerfuffle. The left will shriek at his suggestion that AQI does business with Shiite sects but there’s always been circumstantial evidence that that’s true, and not just about the organization’s Iraqi chapter either. The question for the campaign is how much they want to emphasize it. Tying Iran to an enemy the public is familiar with is a shortcut way of making them grasp the threat, but it risks getting bogged down in having to prove the link conclusively with voters already wary of intel failures after the WMD debacle. There are so many other dangers you could point to — Iran’s rhetoric, the nuclear program, the coordination with Sadr and the other militias, their proxy reach throughout the region — that stressing their connection to an outfit that’s already been crippled inside the country seems like the weakest way to go. Reducing the war on terror to Al Qaeda is really the left’s game anyway.
If they want to nitpick him for anything, they should do it for saying, “I know that Sunni and Al Qaeda are closely tied.” That’s an odd way of describing that particular Venn diagram, but close enough, I guess.
RedLasso thinks they’ve worked out the bugs with their video player; if you’re upgraded to the latest version of Flash, you should be good to go, but let me know if not and I’ll cut this myself.
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Why does one of the major political parties in the USofA feel that it is their duty to do PR work for our enemies.
No one has ever proved that Sunni and Shia have not worked together with Al Queda, but the left acts as if it’s an established fact like 2+2=4.
There is a world of difference between not been proved and it never happened. Ask any prosecutor. Yet the left will act as if it is a total fact.
This is one of many pet peeves I have re: the left.
Another one is the usage of the term, “Swiftboating”, but that is a rant for another post.
JayHaw Phrenzie on April 9, 2008 at 8:13 PM
“Do you understand the difference between Sunni and Shia?”
The only way to answer that question is turn it back on the inquisitor by asking, “Would you please explain the difference between Methodist and, oh, say, Episcopalian?”
rockhauler on April 9, 2008 at 8:14 PM
Exactly opposite of what you asked, but it worked fine for me. That is, or was, extremely rare. 1 success.
Spirit of 1776 on April 9, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Of course I know the difference! Iran is Sunni and is supporting Al Qaeda which is Shia. No! I mean Iran is Shia supporting Al Qaeda which is Shia. No! I mean they are Sunni. One of them is Sunni. I know that! Maybe Saudi Arabia is Sunni? No, that can’t be true ’cause they are our good friends! Whatever Saudi Arabia is, Iran and Al Qaeda must be the other one of those Sunni and Shia things! That’s it! I think? Joe! Somebody get me Joe!
-Juan Plantation McSurgo
MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 8:16 PM
The video played ok. McCain is so energetic.
Zorro on April 9, 2008 at 8:23 PM
I’m sure the next time she interviews Obama she’ll ask him if he knows the difference between Iran and Iraq.
lowandslow on April 9, 2008 at 8:26 PM
I just need to know one thing – where. they. are.
LimeyGeek on April 9, 2008 at 8:26 PM
I like McCain more everyday. I hope he pulls this off.
Claypigeon on April 9, 2008 at 8:27 PM
I was thinking the same thing, but not for the same reasons.
LimeyGeek on April 9, 2008 at 8:30 PM
More importantly, who does her hair? It looks ridiculous.
sheesh on April 9, 2008 at 8:31 PM
Aliens!!! That hot little marine smartgunner chick!Let’s send her in to figure out the difference between Sunni and Shia!!!
Vntnrse on April 9, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Now we’ll see the MSM ask Obama if he knows the difference between Iraq and Iran, after he reversed the two several times in a question to Petreaus, right? Sure, I’m betting Chis Matthews will do it as soon as “the thrill is gone” from his leg!
Gen. Petraeus should have just hung Obama out to dry, and answered “Of course there is a relation between the Shia militia and the Iraqi government… Iraq is where they live – or did you mean between the Shia and Iran?”
drunyan8315 on April 9, 2008 at 8:33 PM
Good God, I hope so. I quiver with fear every time I click play on the redlasso player. Best case scenario is often that it just won’t work at all.
RW Wacko on April 9, 2008 at 8:33 PM
Good catch :)
LimeyGeek on April 9, 2008 at 8:35 PM
All good answers above.
Maybe it’s time to let the true infidels prove to us who THEY are.
I personally could care less what islam sect wants to kill another islam sect. I only care that islam wants my family dead, my soldiers dead, and my women covered up and repressed.
The United States has used the voice of reason and then the hammer. The world has used the voice of reason, and the hammer is coming very soon.
Beware islam your false god, your perverted PROFIT and your felonious sociopathic insistence on destroying the west is going to make the crusades look like a cakewalk.
winemkr on April 9, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Hi there JayHaw Phrenzie. This is United States Senator John Forbes Kerry from the great state of Massachusetts back at yah. You know the one with the great hair and rugged good looks. Yah, that one. And let me tell you, I was swiftboated!!!
I was a great war hero. I set all kinds of records for heroism when I was in Vietnam. I was grievously wounded at least three times yet continued to insist on staying in the fight when lesser men would have given up. I won the bronze star with extra V’s for extra valor and the Silver Star for defeating a whole battalion of NVA with my bare hands.
Sometimes I feel like a had to carry all the water for those other ungrateful swiftboaters. And how did they pay me back? I’ll tell you how by saying that I had made all of that stuff up when they knew god damn good and well that I didn’t make it all up. And then some of them went after my
richlovely wifeMoneybagsTheresa. I should have just left them all in Cambodia when we were they on Christmas.- John F Kerry
MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Spoken as one who is truly bitter about her recent marriage ;)
Meeow. Saucer of milk, table two!
LimeyGeek on April 9, 2008 at 8:37 PM
Of course we all know it is an historic impossibility for two enemies to set their differences aside where there’s mutual benefit to be had…
I also think that Qods Force is entirely able to operate independent black-ops in Iraq without needing clearance from the Iranian government at large or their armed forces. Its well within Khamenei’s powers as supreme leader to permit that, and if that’s the case, analyzing the Iranian moves becomes a lot more complicated. What QF considers a rational move may be considerably different than what a typical Iranian mullah would, considering that QF recruits the most dedicated/radical members of their paramilitary forces. To them, killing more Americans may be a high enough priority to justify continuing to support AQI, even if it is no longer in the Iranian national interest to do so.
tagryn on April 9, 2008 at 8:40 PM
I misread that at first and thought Allah had suicidal thoughts. Yikes.
I can’t wait for Obama to go on FOXNews.
SouthernGent on April 9, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Redlasso worked for the time without stopping in the middle!
W00t!
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 8:43 PM
I spoke to soon!
I just tried to watch it again, and it stopped in the middle! WTH!!
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Why does one warped ideologically perverted branch of the GOP think it is their duty to prop up a CLEARLY deficient candidate. And, no, I will not shut the f**k up and support McCain in the name of party unity. McCain is running on “experience” when it is becoming increasingly clear that it just isn’t economics where the man is a flaming idiot. Time to focus on a VP nominee that will provide intelligence, insight, and vision to the moron at the top of the ticket.
highhopes on April 9, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Grr.. at least, this time when it stopped it didn’t crash firefox.. >:}
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Sunni,Shia,Kurds and AQ oh my!
So it begins,McCain is over two hundred years old,senile
and out of touch———————-PLEASE!
Me thinks the left are worried about McCain becoming
President,oh worry they should!
canopfor on April 9, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Obama’s Supreme Court nominees with a democrat controlled Senate should be all the “urging” you need to support McCain.
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Bingo. Anything else is gravy.
I want to marry Miss USA 2000. She’s not interested.
But life is like that.
Time to grow up.
SteveMG on April 9, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Spoken as one who is truly bitter about her recent marriage ;)
Meeow. Saucer of milk, table two!
LimeyGeek on April 9, 2008 at 8:37 PM
sheesh on April 9, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Good point. Arguing it would let them frame the debate. Otherwise I’d want McCain to fight them on it, tooth and nail.
Red Lasso won’t play for me. I use Firefox.
petefrt on April 9, 2008 at 8:56 PM
I am worried about McCain becoming president.
I am worried about Obama becoming president.
I am worried about Hillary becoming president.
I am very worried.
MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Eternal vigilance is the price you pay for liberty.
(I stole that, in case you don’t know)
SteveMG on April 9, 2008 at 8:59 PM
The Left is right to use the term “swiftboating” as an insult. I feel anger over the swiftboating because it mislead me into voting for John Kerry in 2004. The swiftboat BS turned my stomach with its irrelevance. If Kerry’s Winter Soldier performance had been stressed instead, I would have abstained from voting from in the presidential election. Perhaps, I even would have voted for Bush. It was a huge mistake to waste time on what is irrelevant when Kerry’s treasonous behavior should have been the topic.
I learned about Kerry’s treason only here on Hotair. We should be grateful for this website which gets the information out. The MSM keeps this topic hushed up pretty darn well.
thuja on April 9, 2008 at 9:02 PM
So do I. Worked ok.
JiangxiDad on April 9, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Me too. The next four or five years are going to be a wild ride.
Zorro on April 9, 2008 at 9:03 PM
So you are going to settle for
Helen ThomasJuan McCain?I don’t ‘eva want to “grow up” that much.
MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Esteban: To guards: Remember, he is cunning, he is crafty. He’s not just going to walk in here and say ‘Here I am!’
Zorro: Here I am!
MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 9:06 PM
go to adobe.com , and see if you have the latest version of flash installed..
Current Version
Adobe Flash Player version 9.0.124.0
Browser: Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, Opera
it was recently updated..
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 9:06 PM
I’m far more worried that Obama or Ms. Rodham will. FAR MORE.
jukin on April 9, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Yes, I will happily settle for Juan McCain, over
Juan Heussein(Kill babies, raise your taxes, lose the war, put liberals on the Courts, grab your guns) Obama
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 9:09 PM
I’m almost positive that my limit has been reached. After spending time every day (minus 4 – in a hospital) since the day this site went live, this RedLasso is enough to cause a drastic change in my reading. Months and months of this piece of _____ not working is enough . See ya.
News2Use on April 9, 2008 at 9:09 PM
McCain stated he wouldn’t support another Roberts on the court. I suspect that Triceratops would give us more Souters than real conservative nominees. Toss up if Souter is any better than Ginsberg.
highhopes on April 9, 2008 at 9:10 PM
Juan McCain or Juan Hussein?
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 9:10 PM
McCain supports school choice Obama does not!
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Obama supports the special interests teachers unions that are helping him win..
The same Unions that are keeping kids in failing schools.
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 9:13 PM
You clearly didn’t read the book put out by the SWIFT boat folks. They were very fair and documented every claim. This included Kerry’s Winter Soldier crap and the fact he is in the “Hall of Heroes” in Hanoi.
The left continues to minimalize the whole thing as a “smear” campaign because those accusing Kerry just served with him and were not standing right next to him when he got his multiple Purple Hearts. Please don’t continue in ignorance on this subject and read the damned book.
highhopes on April 9, 2008 at 9:15 PM
actually 2+2 doesnt always equal 4
in base 4; 2+2=10
in base 3; 2+2=11
the point: even when you know something as fact it may not be so.
CaptainObvious on April 9, 2008 at 9:17 PM
And Triceratops stands where on the issue of education? I don’t know because the slimy rat bastard won’t come out in support of vouchers or any other method of rescuing children from the NEA? Why? Because it would offend the Democrats he needs to attract now that he told social conservatives to f**k off.
highhopes on April 9, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Would somebody please ask the two Democrat Senators running for President if they know the difference between the Good Guys and the Bad Guys?
How about between “US” and “Them?”
EJDolbow on April 9, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Drudge has an item called “McCain forms team to advise him on foreign policy… Developing… “.
All in all probably a very good idea.
MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 9:18 PM
heh. And she’ll ask Jay Rockefeller when the US Navy started “dropping laser guided missiles.”
funky chicken on April 9, 2008 at 9:18 PM
totally false. McCain is crazy about Roberts and was from his nomination. He said he thought Alito was controversial, but his statements on the floor of the Senate were very strongly pro-Alito after the hearings.
funky chicken on April 9, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Well you see the probably is that if you settle for Juan then Juan is all you will ever get.
MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 9:22 PM
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ce50b5-daa8-4795-b92d-92bd0d985bca.htm
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 9:23 PM
I’m very worried
MB4 on April 9,2008 at 8:57PM
MB4: Thats just great MB4,now I’m
worried about you!
canopfor on April 9, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Juanita Rodham would be no better than Juan Hussein..
Whats the point, at least McCain says secure the borders first, the democrats are saying amnesty in the first 100 days.
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 9:25 PM
For a big finish let’s just flash back to the initial Alito announcement:
McCain said he is “very favorably disposed” toward Alito, but “it’s my obligation to go along with the Gang of 14 and have periodic meetings and discussions.”
The former presidential candidate later told CNN that he expected Alito to be confirmed.
I am going with Byron York on this one.
MORE: Professor Bainbridge checks McCain’s senate speech supporting Alito and provides a Larry King interview as well.
STILL MORE: Patterico is leaning towards McCain (And me!). Ramesh cites the April ‘07 excerpt, so I infer the Lexis wheels are spinning.
Posted by Tom Maguire on January 28, 2008
http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2008/01/mccain-and-alit.html
funky chicken on April 9, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Good for you! Like all McCain apologists, you have his website bookmarked.
Read the damned words of your own propoganda…. McCain doesn’t say anything other than he is against dumb children. Groundbreaking comments from a politician!
Where are the specifics? Your propoganda says parents can opt out but does that mean simply the ability to place the child in another public school or does that mean vouchers to pursue real education alternatives?
highhopes on April 9, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Here’s what John McCain had to say about Samuel Alito on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 (109th Congress, 2nd Session) when debate on the Alito nomination to the SCOTUS opened (taken from 152 Cong Rec S 35):
We know that elections have consequences. When President Bush ran for reelection, he stated plainly and often that if given the opportunity, he would nominate judges to the U.S. Supreme Court who strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States. True to his promise, the President nominated John Roberts to become the 18th Chief Justice of the United States. Just as true to his promise, he nominated Samuel Alito to serve as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
I was pleased that President Bush nominated Judge Alito, as were many other Members of this body. I reserved final judgment, as most of us did, until we saw the confirmation process proceed. I don’t take the Senate’s advice and consent role lightly. I didn’t want to encourage a rush to judgment.
The hearings have occurred, and I believe Judge Alito has performed admirably. There were 18 hours and 700 questions, and there probably would have been a lot more questions if there [*S63]
had not been the length of the questions, sometimes lasting as long as a half hour.
Anyway, I believe he is worthy of our support. As has been stated time after time on the floor, he earned the highest ratings of the American Bar Association.
funky chicken on April 9, 2008 at 9:29 PM
McCain continued
I will make one other comment. We are dragging out this process for no good reason. We all know what the outcome of the vote is going to be. We have other pressing business, including lobbying reform, which needs to be taken up by this body. We have pending the issue of the PATRIOT Act. There are many issues we should be addressing and at least beginning to work on, rather than dragging out this process. I wish my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would see fit to bring this process to a close and let us vote on Judge Alito and move on to other pressing issues.
The fact that there will probably be a large number of votes on that side of the aisle against Judge Alito doesn’t upset me as much as it saddens me. I didn’t agree with the judicial philosophy of Justice Breyer or Justice Ginsburg. I knew that Justice Ginsburg worked for the ACLU and held liberal views. But I also believe that elections have consequences. The President of the United States-at that time, President Clinton-nominated them as his selection. There were very few-a handful of votes against either Justice Breyer or Justice Ginsburg.
When there is a large number of votes against this highly qualified individual, it is a symptom of the rather bitter partisanship that exists in this body today, and I regret that very much. There are pressing issues, such as Iran and their rapid acquisition of nuclear weapons, which spring to mind.
funky chicken on April 9, 2008 at 9:31 PM
Thanks, guys. I’ll check it.
petefrt on April 9, 2008 at 9:32 PM
My bad. I meant Alito. However, my point remains. There was nothing “controversial” about Alito if you hold conservative values. McCain’s tepid initial support really worries me. Hard to imagine the rat bastard (political) traitor will put “controversial” nominees up for the SCOTUS. More likely to consult with Democrats the way we got the Harriet Meirs nomination from GWB.
highhopes on April 9, 2008 at 9:32 PM
If you read the link..
I read this as reforms of being able to move public monies per student and apply them to public education.
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Here’s Obama’s gaffe from yesterday’s Petraeus/Crocker briefing:
He meant Iranian, not Iraqi.
Amy Proctor on April 9, 2008 at 9:34 PM
By the way, how many people here really know the difference between Sunni and Shia?
Amy Proctor on April 9, 2008 at 9:35 PM
one of them think after the death of mohammed his friends who learned from him would lead the group.
the other think that it should have decended to the family of mohammed.
which is which…dont really care.
CaptainObvious on April 9, 2008 at 9:38 PM
Shia+Sunni= Moslem = kill infidels . F@@kin d@ckheads
mred on April 9, 2008 at 9:41 PM
Secure the borders first? So we won’t be able to ever go after the scofflaw employers, or do anything else, if the borders are never secure. Tricky.
Remember, if we get Juan McCain we also get Juan Hernandez. Two Juans for one. Kind of a two-fer like Bill and Hill.
Could you provide a link to the democrats (I presume that would be Obama and Hillary) where they say “amnesty in the first 100 days”?
MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 9:41 PM
It’s true I didn’t read the book, but that’s a little much ask of most people with all sorts of interest. Here’s what I got from the swiftboat campaign: some people who served with Kerry claimed that John Kerry shouldn’t have recieved a Purple Heart. I think that many people got the exact same message from the swift boaters. But the merit of Kerry’s service is not really a political issue. It’s something for People magazine. Kerry’s treasonous Winter Soldier statement are a political issue.
Admittedly, the message I got from the swift boat campaign could have been filtered through the MSM. I could have been the victim of propaganda. Indeed, I probably was the victim of propaganda. Still why weren’t the Winter Soldier statements the lead in the attack on Kerry?
thuja on April 9, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Oh dear apologist,
Like all good propoganda it never says what you “read” it as saying. Gives McCain plenty of room to pander to NEA. But you are clearly to blind to see the truth. Go ahead and enjoy the Kool-aid.
highhopes on April 9, 2008 at 9:43 PM
continued:
That’s tepid support? Did you want him to ask to have Alito’s babies?
funky chicken on April 9, 2008 at 9:44 PM
How many Juan’s, Hussein’s and Farrakhan’s are on Obama’s team?
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Amy Proctor. They hate each other, but they hate us even more. The Sunnis are found in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, 1/3 of Iraq, etc.
The Shia are found heavily in Iran, southern Iraq, and Lebanon (Hezb’allah).
Which flavor dominates in Syria? I don’t know.
funky chicken on April 9, 2008 at 9:47 PM
highhopes has a crush on Obama and he wont tell us why.
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 9:47 PM
I read this as reforms of being able to move public monies per student and apply them to
publicpublic or private education.Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Over half the book focused on Winter Soldier and Kerry’s activities after he returned from VN.
I also wondered why there wasn’t more emphasis on the Winter Soldier efforts and Kerry’s involvement with anarchists. My conclusion (for what it is worth) is that this particular story line wasn’t “sexy” since Kerry spent so much time dealing with his four months in a combat zone. Dealing with his treason is far more difficult and also tars many people. John Lehman, for example, allowed Senator Kerry to “edit” his DD-214 discharge documents. To this day, Kerry waves his 1980s vintage discharge as proof the SWIFT boaters (including a Medal of Honor winner) are partisan liars.
highhopes on April 9, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Are such personal attacks really necessary?
highhopes on April 9, 2008 at 9:54 PM
My God, he stammered just a little.
Unbelievable. That can’t happen!!!
Bill CLinton never stammered or mispronounced!!! NEVER!
But I feel much safer with J Mac in the WH. I think he really dislikes terrorists and will take a nice feeling for himself out of a good terrorist blowing up.
Bary Obama might want to sing Kumbaya with Al Qaeda for all we know, he doesn’t really let us know how he stands.
benrand on April 9, 2008 at 10:00 PM
I’ve got my Guns and my Gold and my Beer. I’ll be OK.
MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Kelly can talk to me and lie to me all day and I would still be happy.
awake on April 9, 2008 at 10:11 PM
You called me an apologist, so I said that you have a Crush on Obama… Man love.. >:}
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Don’t know. Probably too many also. I am not supporting him either.
MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Well you are an apologist for Juan, but I really doubt that highhopes has a crush on Obama.
MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Thanks for answering my questions. You’ve helped me understand the issues about the Swift Boat campaign. I just wish that there was some way to get across to people like me in 2004 the problems with John Kerry.
thuja on April 9, 2008 at 10:20 PM
You know what’s really funny about that quote? The followup dialogue (in context to McCain)
After Vasquez (and I’ll try to forget the guy above who said she was a ‘cute little’ smartgunner; she looked to be packin about 140 lbs of muscle; that ain’t little) made her comment about ‘where they are’, Hudson (played masterfully by Bill Paxton) says
‘When Vasquez heard someone say alien, she thought they meant illegal alien and signed up.’
Not sure if that was the full context of what you meant, but it had me laughing. Viva McCain!
austinnelly on April 9, 2008 at 10:46 PM
That doesn’t even make sense! You find reasons to excuse McCain’s gaffes. How does that make me an Obama supporter?
I wanted Romney as the best compromise between my socially conservative positions and the far-left-of-center views of the McCain/Rudy/Bloomberg idiots of the socialist wing of the GOP. I was told to f**k off by you and others of your ilk. Don’t expect me to support you now. I may ultimately vote for Triceratops in November but I will not support him with my money and time the way I usually support Republican nominees.
highhopes on April 9, 2008 at 10:48 PM
highhopes, then support this guy:
https://www.jimogonowski.com/mediacenter
or the guy running against Rockefeller:
http://www.jaywolfe2008.com/
funky chicken on April 9, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Oh there is man with STRONG LONG HELD CONVICTIONS **snicker**
Anyhow you have three options
1. Vote McCain
2. Vote for The Democrats(Socialist/Communist agenda)
3. stay home and if #2 prevails you helped being it on.
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Anyhow you have three options
1. Vote McCain
2. Vote for The Democrats(Socialist/Communist agenda)
3. stay home or vote 3rd party(same thing) and if #2 prevails you helped being it on.
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 11:45 PM
Iran’s cleric run government is Shiite, and the fervent expectation of the imminent appearing of the Hidden Imam, the Mahdi, fuels much of Shiite political activity. This activity is 99% invisible to western secularists and serves as a secret language for ideology and action among Shia on both sides of the Iranian border.
Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeni rose to power after the coup against the Shah largely due to the messianic expectations of Iran’s Shia cleric establishment. There is no precedent for Shia led states in the past as the Shiite narrative is one of suffering at the hands of unjust oppressors (including Sunni governments) and awaiting for the deliverance promised by the appearing of the 12th or ‘Hidden Imam’.
Almost all the Shiite holy sites, tombs of the Imams (Shiite saints), and pilgrimmage destinations are in Iraq. During the 1980-1988 war with Iraq, Iranian objectives including seizure of the Shia holy sites, particularly in Kerbala and Najaf where the Hawza, a Shiite “vatican” thrives as the center of Shiite academic and religious activity. It is somewhat of a reproof of the Shiite revival that Iran’s holy sites are all in Iraq.
No coup de etat against the Baghdad government is possible for Iran while Coalition Forces garrison the country’s strongholds. Hence, the strident posture of most radical Shia against the ‘occupiers’ – those who are preventing the Mahdi from manifesting himself and ushering in the Golden Age of Islam. Moqtada al Sadr is a devotee of the Mahdi and is sincere in his beliefs.
Failure of western diplomats to grasp the complex and sincere machinations of Shiite theology, ecclesiology and eschatology has resulted in arrogant exacerbation of religious tensions in Iraq and the region. Sadr’s endeavor to become and Ayatollah will eventually grant him much greater prestige and influence than his position as a militia leader. His street credibility is sky high due the martyrdom of his father, father in law and brothers by the hand of Saddam Hussein.
Any strategic victories or successes in the region will engage Shia Islam and will require in-depth religious analysis and praxis.
Johnny, guest of Amy Proctor
Amy Proctor on April 10, 2008 at 12:13 AM
The Sunnis are the ones who support a group of terrorists who want to kill us, while the Shi’ites are those who support a different group of terrorists who want to kill us.
Finer distinctions are just peachy, but irrelevant.
profitsbeard on April 10, 2008 at 12:16 AM
Shias believed that the Caliph should come from the bloodline of Mohammed, Sunnis disagreed and wanted the Caliph to be picked for merit, they put every head of Mohammeds descendants in leather bags in what is present day Iraq. When you see Muslims cutting themselves with knives and swords, this is what they are marking.
Shias are less than 30% of Muslims and have been on the lower rung of Islam since the divide. Presently they are ascendant and wag even Sunni tails in Syria , Lebanon and Gaza/Westbank.
The Shia make Jabba the Hut and ten thousand princes nervous in Saudi Arabia. And George Bush is best friends with Saudi’s and believe the advice about Islam they lavish on him. Who wouldn’t, they ought to know.
The Shia are more active and scarier than Sunni’s. Shia work to create chaos and induce the end of the world in hopes of rousing a slumbering 12th Imam of Mohammeds blood to cleanse the world for Islam. Remember Shia are crazy.
Sunni are the majority and have always been dominate and want things done as Islam always has, suborn, intimidate and consume. Dominate the world until all religion is only for Allah. That means they rule and you are dead, a slave, a financial slave or a Muslim. They don’t want to destroy the world like the Shia, they want to feed off it.
Sunnis are a little put out at the power Shias currently wield.
Last night many stated almost boastfully that they didn’t care to know the difference between the two. Even Americans can’t really afford that level of luxury ignorance on an enemy who is already well entrenched in your country and feeding off you.
It’s anathema now to conceive of pitting these two natural enemies against each other because of the dream for “reconciliation” before those critical fall elections that will redeem Bush and the Republican party. (A pathetic hook to hang your pride on)
Still a dark road to stumble through for those who won’t see by the light of Islam.
BL@KBIRD on April 10, 2008 at 12:19 AM
Its clear that BL@CKBIRD has done his homework. Would to God that the state department and department of defense knew half of what BL@CKBIRD knows.
Johnny
Amy Proctor on April 10, 2008 at 12:33 AM
It looks like Ken Paves did Meghn’s hair.
I miss Laurie Dew(sp)
luvstotango on April 10, 2008 at 1:52 AM
At the very end of the first Senate meeting, Evan Bayh seemed to indicate that he thinks Pakistan is an Arab country. Anyone else catch that?
DrSteve on April 10, 2008 at 8:56 AM
The ones who complain about Iran supporting al-Qaida, which is Sunni, should remember that Iran supports HAMAS, which is also Sunni.
CP on April 10, 2008 at 10:21 AM
As far as McCain is concerned, he is old. His mind is fading. Take a look at the McCain that campaigned in 2000 and compare it to the feeble old man that is the Republican nominee in 2008. He may have some intelligent people behind him but I have a feeling he will need Liebermann whispering in his ear on a regular basis. The fact that he was never the sharpest tool in the shed from the start doesn’t help. The people who voted for him in the primaries are a reflection of the man himself, they picked the shiniest object and really didn’t give a damn about substance or policy.
LevStrauss on April 10, 2008 at 11:17 AM
There are 10 types of people in this world – those that understand binary and those that don’t.
LimeyGeek on April 10, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Hey Johnny. Next time, the obligatory answer should be,”Bomb them all, and let Allah sort out his own,” You’re getting my vote anyway. I can’t in good faith pull the lever for either of the Marxists/Progressives/Socialist Fascists…………..
adamsmith on April 10, 2008 at 2:49 PM
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