More Iraq news
I guess the news is taking a holiday this weekend, too. The only real news is coming from Iraq and the area. Reuters reports that the Yemeni air force is trying to beat back a Shi’ite rebellion inspired by events in Iraq;
The fighting in northern Yemen, which has taken on a sectarian tone, is further destabilising a country struggling to overcome many problems, including a secessionist movement in its restive south and the nationwide spread of al Qaeda insurgency.
Shi’ite Houthi fighters, officially known as Ansarullah, blamed army units linked to the rival Sunni Muslim Islah party for breaking the June 23 ceasefire on Friday when government troops advanced on an area in al-Jouf province.
As I understand it, the whole rift between Sunnis and Shi’ites goes back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century when folks disagreed about who should take over leadership of Islam. Sunnis think that leadership should reside among Muhammad’s students while Shi’ites think that only descendents of the Prophet are qualified. The Economist explains;
[T]he Shia see their ayatollahs as reflections of God on earth. This has led Sunnis to accuse Shia of heresy, while Shia point out that Sunni dogmatism has led to extremist sects such as the puritanical Wahhabis.
So, according to the Associated Press, the Sunni Nation of Islam, formerly ISIS or ISIL, the Sunnis in their newly acquired role in northern Iraq have begun destroying Shi’ite holy sites. Yeah, that’s something that they can’t walk back from;
Images posted online show that Islamic extremists have destroyed at least 10 ancient shrines and Shiite mosques in territory – the city of Mosul and the town of Tal Afar – they have seized in northern Iraq in recent weeks.
Associated Press also says that a man purportedly claiming to be Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the supposed leader of the new Islamic Nation, has ordered all Muslims to obey him.
In the video, the man said to be al-Baghdadi says that “the mujahedeen have been rewarded victory by God after years of jihad, and they were able to achieve their aim and hurried to announce the caliphate and choose the Imam,” referring to the leader.
“It is a burden to accept this responsibility to be in charge of you,” he adds. “I am not better than you or more virtuous than you. If you see me on the right path, help me. If you see me on the wrong path, advise me and halt me. And obey me as far as I obey God.”
Speaking in classical Arabic with little emotion, he outlines a vision that emphasizes holy war, the implementation of a strict interpretation of Islamic law, and the philosophy that the establishment of an Islamic caliphate is a duty incumbent on all Muslims.
So, apparently there is going to be no peaceful resolution of this situation since all sides don’t see any wiggle room between the two alternatives here – I know, it’s hard to believe that two extremes can’t come together. The West thinks that replacing Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki will change things, but according to Agency France Press, Iraqis still support him.
Category: Terror War
Problem I see is, the Iraqis who still support Mailiki are the same ones who will toss their weapons, shed their uniforms and head on back to the family goat herding as soon as al-Baghdadi shows his troops and ugly mug anywhere close to Baghdad. The Iraqis, save a few, are cowards. They are also Muslims first and foremost. Muslims who think the other Muslims should die because they don’t bow enough times on their prayer rug or don’t see al-Baghdadi as the new Caliph will kill and destroy Mosques and Holy Shrines until the cows come home. They don’t care. This is why Iran wants their foot in the door. I say, evacuate ever American troop and citizen from Iraq and let al-Baghdadi, the Iraqi Army and the Iranians have at it. Warn them that if they export their terrorism beyond their borders there will not be troops coming but bombs. Big ones and lots of them. Obama is going to lose this for America again, at the cost of American lives. As soon as al-Baghdadi declares his “Zero Hour” and the sleeper cells, turn coats and his troops outside the city activate, our Embassy will fall. Obama has the choice here to evacuate and protect American lives and deal with this from a position of security and power. No Embassy personnel to take hostage will pop their balloon. Then they can fight amongst themselves for the country they are willing to fight and die for. No more, no less. We cannot save Iraq. We cannot save any Muslim nation from their own internal, religious hatreds. Leave them be to have what they will have. But, it is too bad Obama is golfing, on vacation or planning the next one to ever care about American lives in Iraq or anywhere. I am worn with this situation in Iraq and now Somalia again. God bless our citizens and keep them safe. Protect us from all enemies, both foreign and…domestic. That would be you Obama and Kerry and your whole care less Administration.
Amen to that, Sparks. I say pull ALL of our USG people out of there, Military and civilian right after warning all American Citizens to bug out, then let them off each other, thus we’ll need fewer bombs to take care of them the next time they start screeching!
I agree, up to a point. Remove all US embassy and military personnel from Baghdad. But move them up north to help the Kurds establish their new state. The Kurds are the only bright spot in the whole mess that is Iraq.
Some Muhammad on Muhammad violence going on right now. Where da Po Po at son.
It never has been about anything but who can climb to the top of the heap and stay there.
I say let ’em off each other as much as they can, less ordnance we’ll have to use in the future!
I second that suggestion!
“I am not better than you or more virtuous than you. If you see me on the right path, help me. If you see me on the wrong path, advise me and halt me. And obey me as far as I obey God.”
A nice way of saying, “I’m in charge. What I say goes. I will slaughter the families of any who fail to toe the Party Line. And I will try to wipe out anybody I don’t like, including those damn dirty shi’ites. Now somebody being me a small boy! Allahu Akbar, durka durka, Mohammed jihad!”
Exactly.
“Durkha-durkha, mohammed jihad”
“DOUBLE DURKHA-DURKHA, DOUBLE MOHAMMED JIHAD, MY JIHAD IS BIGGER THAN YOUR JIHAD!!”
“ALLAH OOBLA-BOOBLA” –
*BOOM!*
Too funny.
And “Boom!” Goes the terrorist.
Is that like “pop goes the weasel”?
That ending took me by surprise. And I laughed my ass off over it. Thanks!
Death cult gonna death cult.
lol @ coexist hippy bumper stickers.
This whole thing between the Shiites and Sunnies sounds about on a par as the “disagreement” between the Lilliputians and the Blefuscuins (sp?) as to which end of the hard boiled egg should be broken first for breakfast.
Bad joke weekend:
Robbers and jihadi both were black ski masks. So how do you tell a robber from a jihadi?
(The robbers smell better.)
Ma’am, I’m sure that even jihadis take a bath twice a year if they need it or not!!