Without Support of the Shiites, US War Plans Fail
ZAMAN
English Edition
Istanbul, TURKEY, April 01, 2003 - USA faces a new surprise each day in the Iraq war. The White House assumptions such as 'The Shiites in Iraq will move with us' have been crushed down as the Shiite population in Iraq supported Saddam Hussein.
It is stated that 'America is face to face with a great dead end'
when Ali Hammadi el Namani killing 4 American soldiers by a suicide attack in the Shiite holy city Najaf (Necef) is revealed to be of Shiite origin.
According to the NTVMSNBC news on the internet,
the war in Iraq achieved 'a first experience in Islamic history' that the Shiites* and the Sunnites* have prayed together at the tomb of Musa Al Kazim, one of the grandsons of Caliph Ali, in the Kazimiya district of Baghdad.
Leading names of the Shiites in exile issued a statement yesterday referring to US. The Opposition condemned the attacks on Iraq and commented,
'This is a war against Islam.'
The Chief of General Staff of USA General Richard Myers in his speech the previous day had stated that he had hoped the Shiites would help them in determining the targets in Baghdad with certainty. But declarations come from the Shia leaders one by one advising not to give any aid to the coalition forces.
Ayetullah Huseyin Ali Muntazeri, one of the leading opposition religious men in Iran claimed that those who co-operate with USA and UK in Iraq would commit a sin.
A statement issued in writing on behalf of Muntazeri noted :
"The war in Iraq is not between the right and the wrong, or the cruel and the oppressed, but between the cruel and the cruel, and the wrong and the wrong," it is stated that any kind of co-operation with the USA and UK would mean a sin.
Muntazeri, who was considered to take place of Khomaini for sure, had lost his prestige when he had criticized the government in a harsh way, a couple of months prior to the death of Khomaini. Muntazeri, who was kept under supervision in his house in Kum for 5 years, was released on January 30. Editor's Note: Shiites* and the Sunnites* are the two sects of Islam.
The Sunnites are characterized by orthodox practice and acceptance of the first four caliphs as legitimate successors to Mohammed. The Siites, are the followers of Ali, son-in-law of Mohammed, who hold that Mohammed had appointed Ali as his successor. After Ali's assassination, they split from their fellow Muslims, the Sunnites, to create the Shia sect.
Without Support of the Shiites, US War Plans Fail
ZAMAN
English Edition
Istanbul, TURKEY, April 01, 2003 - USA faces a new surprise each day in the Iraq war. The White House assumptions such as 'The Shiites in Iraq will move with us' have been crushed down as the Shiite population in Iraq supported Saddam Hussein.
It is stated that 'America is face to face with a great dead end'
when Ali Hammadi el Namani killing 4 American soldiers by a suicide attack in the Shiite holy city Najaf (Necef) is revealed to be of Shiite origin.
According to the NTVMSNBC news on the internet,
the war in Iraq achieved 'a first experience in Islamic history' that the Shiites* and the Sunnites* have prayed together at the tomb of Musa Al Kazim, one of the grandsons of Caliph Ali, in the Kazimiya district of Baghdad.
Leading names of the Shiites in exile issued a statement yesterday referring to US. The Opposition condemned the attacks on Iraq and commented,
'This is a war against Islam.'
The Chief of General Staff of USA General Richard Myers in his speech the previous day had stated that he had hoped the Shiites would help them in determining the targets in Baghdad with certainty. But declarations come from the Shia leaders one by one advising not to give any aid to the coalition forces.
Ayetullah Huseyin Ali Muntazeri, one of the leading opposition religious men in Iran claimed that those who co-operate with USA and UK in Iraq would commit a sin.
A statement issued in writing on behalf of Muntazeri noted :
"The war in Iraq is not between the right and the wrong, or the cruel and the oppressed, but between the cruel and the cruel, and the wrong and the wrong," it is stated that any kind of co-operation with the USA and UK would mean a sin.
Muntazeri, who was considered to take place of Khomaini for sure, had lost his prestige when he had criticized the government in a harsh way, a couple of months prior to the death of Khomaini. Muntazeri, who was kept under supervision in his house in Kum for 5 years, was released on January 30. Editor's Note: Shiites* and the Sunnites* are the two sects of Islam.
The Sunnites are characterized by orthodox practice and acceptance of the first four caliphs as legitimate successors to Mohammed. The Siites, are the followers of Ali, son-in-law of Mohammed, who hold that Mohammed had appointed Ali as his successor. After Ali's assassination, they split from their fellow Muslims, the Sunnites, to create the Shia sect.
