Arab terrorists are at it again.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Spiffor

Yes. But the simple fact that some Shiite elites are trying to push for political reformism rather than armed rebellion prooves that the Shiites are led by pragmatical people.

I'd rather deal with blind fanatics, then strategic fanatics. There's nothing to indicate that the goals here are different. The strategy is in pushing political discontent among the population up, to be ready as the situation develops in Iraq.

They'll naturally try to milk as much as possible from the Saud's fear of an Iraqi-shiite infection, but they seem to be prone not to favor a civil war of some kind.

Not yet.

And this is good.

Shiite Iran + Shiite Iraq to be + Shiite push in Saudi (not to mention Kuwait, as an afterthought once the Saudis have their minds right) = Shiite control of Mecca and Medina plus most of the world's oil. It's definitely good for them.

[Spiffor]

As long as the oil production isn't resurrected in Iraq, the US will have no other choice but to support SA. Besides, it is in the US highest interests to avoid the Shiites to take too much power, so I think that "putting a lid" on the Shiites was on the American agenda since the fall of Saddam

[MichaeltheGreat]

They're patient people. Other empires have come and gone, so will we. Khomeini hung out in exile for 15 years, not to mention all the time he was a pain in the ass before then.

With the infidels talking democracy in Iraq, it will be very hard to derail riled-up Shiite political parties and movements.

[Spiffor]

I wonder if Iraq will become an Islamic theocracy similar to Iran, an semi-Islamic republic à la Turkey, or a very decentralized country à la Belgium where the SHiites will have nearly all the power in their province, but with little influence on the other provinces.

This will depend on the willingness and the calculations of the various opinionmakers, i.e whether they'll find it more cost-efficient to sort out things with or without fighting.

[Ned]

I'd like to throw into the mix that there have been many discussions between the US and Iran recently - so much so that State had to deny that we would normalize relations between Iran and the US. However, to the extent that I could read body language, the Iranian ambassador to the UN was very cordial and complementary of the US.

This is good. So, even though things might go sour fast, it does look like things are moving in the right direction across the board, except for al Qa'ida.

[MichaeltheGreat]

You're always nice to the guy with the gun. Until he turns his back.

[Al'Kimiya]

Originally posted by Spiffor
or a very decentralized country à la Belgium where the SHiites will have nearly all the power in their province, but with little influence on the other provinces.

and where is the Shia province of Belgium?

[Ted Striker]

TIME FOR SOME MF'ING PAYBACK

[Dinner]

The good news is only one civilian was killed in all three of the suicide bomber attacks.

More of the bad guys died then innocents.

[Chemical Ollie]

Some Arabs are p!ssed. I wonder why?

[Ted Striker]

Because the USA is the root of all evil, etc.

[CyberGnu]

The good news is only one civilian was killed in all three of the suicide bomber attacks.

More of the bad guys died then innocents.

And what were the other nine guilty of?

BTW, it's four attacks now, apparently.

[Eli]

According to the US ambassador in Saudi Arabia, 10 people were killed in these bombings.

[Ted Striker]

Israel is also the root of all evil.

Jews run the US therefore US should be bombed.

[Ted Striker]

MichaeltheGreat, Ming, rah, and MarkG should also be bombed.