Article

2004-06-03 Iraq-Jordan

Ayatollah al-Sistani Gives Govt. Conditional Approval

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Posted by Steve 2004-06-03 9:00:57 AM|| || Front Page|| [11131 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 To all those who asserted that the June 30 transition would not occur as scheduled: Ayatollah you so!

Posted by Mike 2004-06-03 9:57:38 AM|| 2004-06-03 9:57:38 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 lacked "electoral legitimacy"

Lol! I just love this shit. A Shi'a "cleric" from Mars critiquing democratic legitimacy, the Arab League criticizing Abu Ghraib - and everything else, Mullet Omar trying to rescue the Taliban's good name, anyone at the UN moving his / her lips, Pelosi & AlGore questioning the competence of anyone - anyone at all, Kerry trying to convince Americans that he's worthy of being elected to public office - any office, George Soros breathing, global warming disaster movies in the current ice age, etc.

There is no end to the buffoonery and pretentious silliness.

Too funny.

Posted by .com 2004-06-03 10:36:52 AM|| 2004-06-03 10:36:52 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Sistani, who holds huge sway over Iraq's 60 percent Shi'ite majority, listed four key tasks that the government had to tackle -- security, basic services for all, a new U.N. resolution granting Iraq full sovereignty and the organizing of free and fair elections early next year.

The UN grants sovereignty? Bullshit! You declare and defend it for yourself (with our help).

Posted by spiffo 2004-06-03 11:31:10 AM|| 2004-06-03 11:31:10 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Sistani wants an Iraq in which the Shiite majority holds a proportionate share of power - he KNOWS that the Sunni Arab minority, with its friends in Jordan and Saudi Arabia dont want that. Ergo he NEEDS UN support, despite the fact that he and his fellow Shiites dislike the UN, to help win legitimacy with Sunni Arabs both inside and outside Iraq. The alternative, declaring it and defending it with only US help, is a formula for civil war, unless the US can use its force to restrain all of Iraqs Sunni neighbors, which it is by no means clear the US is able and/or willing to do.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-06-03 11:54:10 AM|| 2004-06-03 11:54:10 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 .com,

"A Shi'a "cleric" from Mars critiquing democratic legitimacy"

Actually I think it's a really positive sign that he's calling for democracy. Him speaking this way, even though to us it sounds slighly ridiculous, is pushing Iraq down the right path. If he wasn't pushing for democracy it would be a big blow against us.

That all being said I'm still undecided on Sistani... not sure what his motives are yet.

Posted by Damn_Proud_American 2004-06-03 11:56:52 AM|| [http://brighterfuture.blogspot.com] 2004-06-03 11:56:52 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 DPA - Ok... He only "supports" (how lukewarm can one be and still be described as a supporter?) democracy because he sees the advantage in doing so - now. He has been consistently AWOL in almost every case where he could have influenced events toward peaceful resolution. He can, through his spokesmen, claim he wishes to stay out of politics, but he certainly dabbles when it suits him. He is craven and crass in his choices and has allowed his followers to suffer by not supporting the inevitable. Not inciting his followers is not good enough. I figure he's about as calculating and cynical as it gets so I guess you could say I'm not a fan. Just my opinion. :-)

Posted by .com 2004-06-03 12:14:16 PM|| 2004-06-03 12:14:16 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Scrappleface is saying he also ok'd the ABC fall line-up. Thank Bog!

Posted by mojo 2004-06-03 1:49:55 PM|| 2004-06-03 1:49:55 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 He is craven

muqtys dad spoke out openly against Saddam. Muqtys dad got killed by Saddam. Al Khoie was more openly supportive of the coalition than Sistani. Muqty killed al Khoei. Sistani is cautious and craven. Sistani lives. Darwinism at work, I think.

Its not clear if Sistani wants demo only for now or not. Its said he doent like the Iranian system, it drags the clerics into the muck of politics. Has he really read de Toqueville? Or is it just he sees hes not strong enough now, and wants to wait for a more opportune moment. Certainly possible. I tend to hope that by that point it will be to late - there will be some degree of institutionalization of democracy. Thanks to (choke) Brahimi, most of the junior cabinet ministers in the new govt are secularists, as is Allawi. An alliance of secular Sunni and Shiite Arabs with Kurds, will be hard for the Shiite fundies to push out - unless they have the support of the Sunni fundies. Doesnt look like Sistani is making a big push for those - a good sign.

Youre right that we should be wary of Sistani, and watch him closely. Still, when he questions the demo legitimacy, hes not completely on the wrong track. Im not saying the new govt isnt legitimate - im agreeing that it will be more so with an election, and that does need to be one of its primary goals, along with security.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-06-03 4:51:21 PM|| 2004-06-03 4:51:21 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Al-Sistani, the Iranian, (born there) is waiting for one-time elections, so that he can impose a clerical tyranny. He should be killed before he gets power.

Posted by Dog Bites Trolls 2004-06-03 9:16:06 PM|| 2004-06-03 9:16:06 PM|| Front Page Top

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