Arab leaders warily view Shiite stirrings

[skooooo]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&ncid=2027&e=1&u=/chitribts/20040410/ts_chicagotrib/arableaderswarilyviewshiitestirrings

The dramatic yearlong ascent of Iraqi Shiite Muslims, from long-suffering victims of repression to a force capable of confronting the U.S.-led occupation, has hit a central nerve in the Mideast balance of power, emboldening Shiites across the region to voice rising demands for rights and recognition.

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In some places, the Shiite stirrings are drawing sharp, often brutal, government reactions as regimes seek to blunt what they consider to be among the most volatile regional consequences of the war in Iraq (news - web sites).

The liberation and upheaval within Iraq's Shiite community puts new pressure on the central fault line of the Muslim world: the 7th Century schism between Sunnis and Shiites.

[bemildred]

1. One restructuring of the Middle East, coming right up. nt

[ozymandius]

2. Maybe Osama gets his wish.

A pan-Arab state could be in the making. Though I doubt that Osama bin Laden will get his ultimate wish to be installed as its ultimate Kaliph.

Healing schisms are troubling events for precariously structured government powers. The middle east's map was invented to be fractious and unstable.

[keithyboy]

3. Nothing like a common enemy to unite people.

They sit on the earth's natural wealth. If the 'old EU' decides to cast in their lot with the Shiites and if N.Korea and China play footsies with them....the US will become a second rate nation full of self-agrandizing, hedonistic, unthinking, uncaring, fat, lazy and ill-informed upper class and an ever embittered other class.

[frylock]

4. it would be almost awesome to watch, if so much weren't at stake..

power to the people.

[Aidoneus]

5. that's the sad part

These rulers fear the revolution in Iraq more than they do the invasion & occupation..