Ayatollah Sistani: "I No Longer Have Power To Save Iraq From Civil War"

[kpete]

I no longer have power to save Iraq from civil war, warns Shia leader
By Gethin Chamberlain and Aqeel Hussein in Baghdad
(Filed: 03/09/2006)


The most influential moderate Shia leader in Iraq has abandoned attempts to restrain his followers, admitting that there is nothing he can do to prevent the country sliding towards civil war.

Aides say Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani is angry and disappointed that Shias are ignoring his calls for calm and are switching their allegiance in their thousands to more militant groups which promise protection from Sunni violence and revenge for attacks.

"I will not be a political leader any more," he told aides. "I am only happy to receive questions about religious matters."

It is a devastating blow to the remaining hopes for a peaceful solution in Iraq and spells trouble for British forces, who are based in and around the Shia stronghold of Basra.

more at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/09/03/wirq03.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_03092006

[bluestateguy]

1. How long will we be told that Iraq is on the "verge" of civil war?

Seems that these people have been saying that for two years now. It would be like saying the US was on the "verge" of a civil war in 1863 after the battle of Chancellorsville.

[Pachamama]

2. Maybe on the 3rd anniversary of the Iraqi Civil War, they will finally say

its a friggin civil war.... :eyes:

[Bozita]

3. ... and in a parallel universe, it becomes known as a "Semi-Civil War"

[pooja]

4. Well, in order to be a civil war their has to be a systematic govt

that people are negating. It seems to me the installed govt is not necesarily being negated.. Its more like chaos.. or like in the inner cities where you have gang wars.

[xchrom]

5. al sistani and the u.s. inflated his fuckin reputation

in iraq -- and this is what happens.

i'm sure some sunni and kurds have SOME respect for what the man says -- but once bushco subjected iraq to shock and awe -- everybody realised the opportunity was at hand for their own version of self determination.

and one thing is for certain -- the kurds are not going back in the iraq closet -- no matter what the sunni and shiite do.