Shiites and Sunnis Amaze Me!
This is an update of the situation in Baghdad as of Saturday.
Iraqi clergymen, Shiites and Sunnis, have met in a mosque in Baghdad and decided to contribute to ending the crisis that followed bombing one of Islam’s holiest sites, the shrine of Imam Ali al-Hadi and hasan al-Askari in the city of Samarra north of Baghdad.
What was amazing about it is the unity they showed on TV. Above is a picture of clergymen. The one leading the prayers and circled by a black line is sheikh Abdul Salam al-Kubaisi, spokesman and main preacher in the Association of Muslim Scholars, which is the supreme Sunni religious authority in Iraq. In the picture, Kubaisi is shown leading the prayers and all the clergies behind him are Shiites from Sadr trend. This is the first time I see this. I’ve never seen a Sunni clergyman leading Shiite prayers. You could see the main difference between Sunni and Shiite Islam. Notice the way the Sunni stands [joining hands on the abdomen] and the Shiites standing with hands loose on the sides.
This is a huge encouragement to Iraqis and a huge defeat also for those who predicted a wide civil war in Iraq. Civil war started for real three days ago, but I don’t think there will be anymore. Not if Iraqis saw the picture above. Lets just hope that Iraqis had electricity to power TVs at homes and see what is happening!
[Note: The event was shown on Jazeera satellite channel. So I took a picture from the TV !!]
At 6:17 PM, 
Mister Ghost
I just read the news article regarding this. I understand that President Bush called and spoke with the 7 political leaders regarding the current situation. It was after this that they had the meeting and then came together with their agreement.
I am praying that this will hold for you 24.
Still don't like Sadr though.
At 3:57 AM, Morbid Smile
It's good to see a hopeful Iraqi person in this situation, 24 :)I pray things will settle down soon. It's been a real hell in the past days!
I have a question off topic! Will you continue writing about your journey to the U.S.? I've been waiting to know the rest of it. I need to know from people who went to the U.S. before I get there :)
Much peace to you
At 5:24 AM, Konfused Kid
WELL DONE
WE NEED YOUR POSITIVE OUTLOOK
Well, actually the situation is not all sugar as 24 pictures it, but is indeed not vingar as everybody else chooses to picture it.
It's more of like between the two, and it's up to us to spread the spirit of hope now, strength, and unity to the masses.
It really depends on the person...if you believe in your nation, your outook will be positive, because I know this wound will be healed and off it Iraq will be more expereicned.
Damn, I'm looking like a propaganda, sorry for that, but it's how i feel at the mo
l8erz.
At 6:09 AM, Dinah Lord
24 -
Thank you for this recent update.
I've been thinking about you and pray that better days are ahead for you, your family and your country. Hang in there.
(Christine - I don't like that Sadr dude either.)
Dinah
P.S. Praying for Jill Carroll as well - today is the deadline her captors have set for her execution.
At 6:12 AM, 24 Steps to Liberty
Morbid Smile,
i couldnt finish the entried as i wanted because as you know, i needed to edit every one so i could escape death adfter publishing it! i just thought that editing some of the stories i had there would kill the whole point, so i had to cut it short. buut if you want, just email me with your questions and i will happily answer them.
Konfused Kid,
im not oicturing anything. just so you know, i am just trying to give the other side of the story, which hapens to be the positive one. i just know,see, and read the negative side they are showing everywhere, so i had to show the other one. i had published the "vingar" before, becasue they only wrote about "sugar"
christine,
what i worte about and pictured happened early in the morning and the afternoon. Bush called the political leader at night. so, what i mentioned has nothing to do with Bush
At 6:31 AM, Original_Jeff
24 Steps,
The gathering of Sunni and Shiite leaders sounds promising.
One other thing: Somebody has got to say "We were wrong and we are sorry and we seek forgiveness from you."
I think back to the U.S. Civil Rights era. It was not until the ruling majority whites conceded they were wrong, agreed it was morally wrong, and agreed to treat people of all colors equally, that we were able to make any progress at all.
Those that supported the former regime need to say "Look, we were mistaken. It would have been better to have had a totally inclusive society with every treated the same, and with equal justice."
i understand that iraq may not be as bad as being reported in the west and even you and other bloggers have differing views of what you see and hear there. it is not easy to get a clear picture here in the states.
but what concerns me the most that the us government decided it was in their best interest to step in a "mediate" a "peace deal". we both know that the us officials have two things in mind-oil and the november elections. if wasn`t for the elections the us government would do nothing.
peace be with you and your countrymen and women
At 9:10 PM, olivebranch
Hey 24 I wrote a post which shows the situation from my eyes. I see the positivity and possibilities you see. I have always had an intense feeling Al-Sadr would become a unifying element (though should not be THE national leader).
Many of his followers have been ridiculously extreme and damaging to his image. But no other Shi'ite political//religious figure has reached across the board to the Sunni elements as often as he has.
I don't mention that in the post, as I didn't know until after the post. But I do mention the time for Iraqi's after this period of extremist conflict.
Where Iraq's intelligent population will stand up and take their place as leaders. They will say "ENOUGH WAR. STOP NOW OR GET OUT".
here's the link:
http://olivebranchoptimism.blogspot.com/2006/02/iraq-violence-message-to-baghdad.html
This is excellent, excellent news. Exactly what should be happening right now. Simply, partition and aectarianism must be avoided at all costs.
This is a question which I feel to be very important right now:
The tragic events of the past few days have finally laid to rest a fundamental lie that is being told to the world regarding the presence of the US military in Iraq.
* That lie is that the US is in Iraq for the sake of stability and to “prevent civil war”. *
Fact is, when the riots and sectarian attacks broke out in Iraq following the demolition of the Askariya Mosque, the US military was NOWHERE to be seen. They were basically watching the country burn down around them from the safety of the Green Zone and their barracks. It was the efforts of local communities and Iraqi leaders that managed to restore order and that managed to keep communities from being overwhelmed.
The complete inability of the US Army to ‘prevent civil war’ mirrors their inability to halt the looting in 2003.
In the words of Zeyad: “In my neighbourhood, most side streets are already blocked by residents, and small teams with weapons are keeping watch at every corner.”
No mention of US tanks, right?
Now, given that the US Army is completely unable to intervene in a “civil war” and indeed has no solution to Iraqis fighting each other except for letting them kill each other:
I ask the question: WHY IS THE US STILL IN IRAQ ?
This link may give us some insight into the nature of the perpetrators of the Askariya bombing:
http://abutamam.blogspot.com/2006/02/samarra-and-cia-bred-death-squads-in.html
From a US standpoint, the more time Iraqis spend fighting each other, the less time they will have to fight Americans … which was always the plan.
At 10:20 PM, 
At 10:38 PM,
[anonymous] "Bruno, Who should the American's have shot during the sectarian fighting? Shiites? Sunnis? Both? Siding with either would be good way to start a civil war - not prevent it. Staying neutral and calling for unity is the best option in this case."
In other words, the US military forces are completely useless in the current context, the same as in the 2003 looting spree.
They are completely unable to prevent 'civil war'.
Thank you for confirming my post.
Given that this is the last weak excuse for their continued presence in Iraq, I say they must be withdrawn at the soonest.
American presence is no longer justified.
At 7:00 AM,
Bruno, I think your conspiracy theory is silly. Why would the U.S. drop billions of dollars on reconstruction, training a military, funding a government, holding elections, lose 2,279 of our sons, put up with fierce international opposition, and spend all its political capital to simply start a civil war in Iraq? If you read the news you would know that the over 60% of Baghdad is in Iraqi security forces' hands. However, this is not a pretext for the US military withdrawal as we still provide security for the dangerous Anbar province and backup still-training Iraqi units. We didn't side with anyone in the violence--we stood back to let Iraqis patrol the streets to let the people see that their forces are capable. However, a few independent battalions of Iraqis isn't enough to cover the entire area of Iraq. Also, the news was peppered today of Sunnis asking, "Where are the Americans? We cannot trust the Interior Ministry or Army to protect us." Does this sound like stability? As soon as you and your friends want to volunteer to patrol Fallujah and Ramadi and to be a stable force in Iraq, I think we can still use U.S. forces there.
At 9:47 AM,
At 10:43 AM,
Lynnette in Minnesota said: Children, please, if you can't come up with better zings than that, then why bother?
Herein lies the problem. It is as though the purpose is simply to "zing" and no other.
24,
Please forgive me for being rude on your blog. My first exposure to Lynnette was long ago, her comment: "If you really knew what was going on in Fallujah you would understand why the troops are going to attack. The so called insurgents in that city and elsewhere are not fighting to free Iraq. They are fighting to enslave it. "
It wears a person down...but that's no excuse.
At 5:29 AM,
At 7:56 AM, Lynnette in Minnesota
Anna Mist,
"It is as though the purpose is simply to "zing" and no other."
Than you should not try it.
"If you really knew what was going on in Fallujah you would understand why the troops are going to attack....."
Do you have something against the truth?
Nader's Ex,
Don't worry, dear, I have no designs on your ex. If he's in Syria checking out the ladies, he can brush up on his seduction technique.
Nadia,
I think Bruno's analysis is incorrect.
At 9:56 PM,
To Bruno and the others who support terrorism, dictatorship, fascist socialism, anarchy and general thoughtlessness: We've heard all your useless ideas a million times over. We still think you're idiots. You've been predicting immediate American withdrawal since January 2003, and we're STILL there, supporting our Iraqi brothers. While you have fought for years now to spread death, darkness and disinformation, we're still in Iraq fighting to spread the light that will empower and bring Iraqis back into this beautiful world that you hate so much. Keep throwing up your baseless drivel, though. It is amusing to the winners of this world. Such a shame, though, that you can't put your misguided passions to better use. Then again, we wouldn't be right, if you weren't so wrong.
At 5:57 PM,
[boondocksaint] “Why would the U.S. […] start a civil war in Iraq?”
[boondocksaint] “Also, the news was peppered today of Sunnis asking, "Where are the Americans? We cannot trust the Interior Ministry or Army to protect us."”
EXACTLY.
That’s the point of creating civil discord. The Americans have realised that if Iraqis stop FEARING each other, and if they reach a climate of accord, the very next step will be to tell the US to leave.
The political process has seen the Iranian-aligned groups wipe the mat with your imported stooges, and simply there seems to be little future for the US in Iraq unless it can use a dose of fear and sectarian violence to get its way in the said political process.
The US must keep Iraqis fighting each other, fearing each other, so that they NEVER band together and give the US its marching orders.
Funny that this blast occurred just as the Southern provinces started to refuse cooperation with the invader, isn’t it?
Brave [anonymous] – “To Bruno and the others who support terrorism, dictatorship, fascist socialism, anarchy and general thoughtlessness:”
I see – are we talking of American foreign policy … ?
[anon] “You've been predicting immediate American withdrawal since January 2003 …”
Not I. I know you yanks are too stupid to learn a lesson the easy way, that you have to get yer asses whupped reeaal gooood, before you learn. Just like Vietnam. The Iraqi guerrillas are performing well above what I and others expected, I’m pleased to say.
[anon] “Then again, we wouldn't be right, if you weren't so wrong.”
Really, is that a FACT? I guess this article must have been a trick of the eye, then:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1715179,00.html
Only a leading neocon admitting he was wrong, and rejecting further involvement with your project.
Lynnette –
What, no analysis of WHY I am wrong? Tsk, tsk, I expected more of you.
Nadia, Anna –
thank you, your comments are appreciated and noted.
At 1:01 PM, Lynnette in Minnesota
Bruno,
If you base an argument on a faulty premise than you end up with an incorrect result.
Your faulty premise being that we never want to leave. If we wanted permanent bases in Iraq, the Kurds are more than willing to supply the land. There is no need to incite turmoil in the south.
No, what is happening is the work of others. May I remind you, that it is costing us billions of dollars to remain in Iraq with the number of troops that we have. To whose benefit is that?
At 1:55 PM,
May I remind you, that it is costing us billions of dollars to remain in Iraq with the number of troops that we have. To whose benefit is that?
May I remind you that had the Bush administration not been so ridiculously inept they might have realized their projection of:
Getting the oil. Iraq has about 10 percent of the world’s oil proven reserves and resources. Iraq’s oil resources could satisfy current U.S. oil imports for almost a century.
The Bush administration rolled the dice and lost. Of all the ridiculous things you have said Lynn, the idea that the US would buy Iraqi oil as it was priced for market is most hilarious.
Do you have a CLUE how silly you sound?
At 1:58 PM,
At 10:15 PM,
Yes, bruno, your Iraqi guerrillas are "succeeding." In three years, approximately 2500 american troops have been killed in iraq. That's pretty pathetic. By your accounts, you'd think we'd have lost tens of thousands. Your guerrillas have killed tens of thousands of Iraqis, though. I guess in your world, that is victory.
At 6:05 PM, An Italian.
Twentyfour Steps for Liberty,
since our sweet Lynnette casts doubts on Bruno's identity, I can tell that he is truly from South Africa, and IN South Africa, as you can easily ascertain, anyway.
As for dear Lynnette, it is quite certain that she "has been around for years now, trolling Iraqi blogs trying to sow as much" support and affection for the demented and criminal policies of the United States "as [s]he can".
And it is 'definAtely', yes 'definAtely' [sic! as she would write] certain that she is indeed from Apeland... actually she couldn't be born anywhere else (not even in Sadr City, LOL!).
This, dear 24, as a further example of the dubious propagandist tactics of our American warmongers...
[lynnette] “Your faulty premise being that we never want to leave. If we wanted permanent bases in Iraq, the Kurds are more than willing to supply the land.”
And your problem is that you don’t follow through with your reasoning.
Why don’t the Americans build bases in the secure northern Iraqi areas? Hmm. Maybe because those resisting their rule are mainly in the centre. What is the point of building permanent bases amongst people who are already your friends – when you want to subdue your enemies? US bases in ‘kurdistan’ are useless.
But sure, we all believe that you want to leave soon. I mean, that’s why you are spending BILLIONS of dollars building bases best described as ‘little cities’. Shucks, why go prefab if you can use concrete to build temporary structures, am I right?
[anon] “Yes, bruno, your Iraqi guerrillas are "succeeding." In three years, approximately 2500 american troops have been killed in iraq. That's pretty pathetic. By your accounts, you'd think we'd have lost tens of thousands. Your guerrillas have killed tens of thousands of Iraqis, though. I guess in your world, that is victory.”
Your actual ‘casualties’ are over 25000. That means limbless, broken people shipped back to the US for you to support. The low recruitment rate is a direct reflection of the Iraqi’s success. Do you know that if the fighting stopped NOW, the US Army has TWO YEARS of overhauls to do on battle-damaged vehicles to get them back to scratch?
Secondly, the last time anybody bothered to check, Iraqi civilian casualties were caused mainly by US bombing and airstrikes. I recall the Lancet study providing us with a particularly high total of the dead Iraqis being thanks to your efforts. Bravo.
Italian –
Good to see you around, and thank you for the support. I am indeed South African – not as if that matters in any way to the argument at hand.
At 8:37 PM,
"Your actual ‘casualties’ are over 25000." - Bruno
Bruno, I hate to continue arguing with you considering you have the mental capacity of a 7 year old, but this is just too ridiculous. No matter how many "casualties" you choose to count, there is no way they come even close to those suffered in WW1, WW2, Korea or Vietnam. By all objective accounts, your "brave guerrillas" are subpar when compared with Germans, Japanese, Nazis, North Koreans, and Viet cong. And none of those "guerrillas" had to use terrorism, killing 50 Iraqis for every 1 US soldier. Your "brave guerrillas" are a joke, Bruno. There were about 50 other good arguments you could have used to try to counter what I said earlier - instead you chose to avoid the issue, and now you look like a fool...again.
At 2:35 PM,
Bruno's Nemesis
Smart arse, your Stalinistic statistics are goofy. In Korea and Vietnam your poor bastards were fighting China. In Iraq your whole entire army is fighting a handful of a resistance that managed to send more than 25000 well shaven cretins back to US of A.
Quite impressive performance from the largest army in the world. LOL
btw. I know who you are you little pr....
At 10:00 PM,
"btw. I know who you are you little pr...." - Bruno's boyfriend
Thank you, but I already have a girlfriend. Please stop stalking me. And I imagine Bruno will be jealous if he reads this...and by the way, threatening people over the internet is a punishable crime in many countries. You should be very careful with how you phrase your "scary" insults...
But I guess your position is that Iranian, Jordanian, Saudi Arabian, Syrian and Saddam financed Iraqi guerrillas are better than Chinese financed ones in Vietnam and Korea...You might be right, but your guys sure do miss a lot. You need to teach them how to aim, so they don't kill so many of the Iraqis they are supposedly fighting for.
Say what you want about our troops...I'm very proud of our accomplishments considering there are only 150000 in the country. Your facts are off, by the way - its 2500 american dead, not 25000...try not to embellish when you rant like a child. And really, 2500 is pathetic - come on. You can't possibly believe that your "guerrillas" are independent, intelligent, truly patriotic "freedom fighters" when they can't kill more than 2500 American soldiers in 3 years of fighting. Hell, bin laden killed 3000 Americans in one day. The presumption is that your "guerrillas" are mercenaries with no alliance to Iraq. They simply fight for the highest bidder, and that's why they don't care when Iraqi's are killed.
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