hey mikie, check this out...

theseldomscene · Banned Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 7817

http://portal.tds.net/news.php?story=36482

45degreeN · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:46 pm Post subject:

There are over 20 different sects of shiite Islam in Iraq and Sadr's is only one of them. Each has its own priorities and safe ground and tries to gain new territory.

I'm not at all surprised at this story sad to say the future of Iraq is likely this way.

theseldomscene · Banned Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 7817

....yes...

saintmichaeldefendthem · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:25 pm Post subject:

Heya, Seldom

(see how long I can keep a grudge?) Laughing

Definitely not one of my talents, my animosity toward anyone is erradicated when God forgives me for my offenses....which is often.

I should have looked at this thread instead of assuming it to be antagonistic. This article really serves to confirm my already dismal anticipations of Iraq's future. Many people look only at the bad and conclude that Iraq will fail at democracy. I look at both sides, and I was especially optimistic when Iraqi citizens dodged bullets just to vote and audaciously dipped their fingers in ink to prove it. But all things considered, the positive trends will not prevail against centuries of religious stricture.

President Bush has often said that people yearn to be free. I thought about that, and concluded that he is only a third right because....

People also yearn to tyrannize and control others, and...

People also will allow themselves to be controlled by others.

So tyranny outweights liberty by 2/3 majority, this is the sad reality of human nature; one that our president is blind to. I think our failure in Iraq will be humiliating as we come to terms with the realization that we aren't God and we can't make people behave.

The surge worked, so let's now withdraw our troops and let Iraq decide for themselves what type of government they want. There comes a time when we need to let them sink or swim.

In the Sacred Heart of Christ

45degreeN · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 7:16 am Post subject:

A cessation of massive death doesn't mean there is peace.

The Shiite groups (there are over twenty such different groups) still are fighting amongst themselves for control and Iran has backed one or more of them. They fight the police and the army

However it does seem that the Al Queda in Iraq has much less influence now than at the height of the fighting. They weren't even there in the beginning though. In spite of the claims of Bush.

saintmichaeldefendthem · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 8:04 pm Post subject:

There are some positive effects at long last, that's correct. Osama Bin Laden sent some video instructions to the Sunni clerics in Iraq, but the clerics responded with a Muslim version of the middle finger.

Or maybe the terrorists have gotten smart and realized that if they bide their time and take advantage of the appetite for a speedy withdrawl among the American public by reducing the violence temporarily, then they'll get what they want; America out of Iraq.

If that's the case, then they are in for quite a wait. Even when we do withdraw, we will take up permanent residence in Kuwait, just in case.