A Shiite War?

The Wall Street Journal via the American Enterprise Institute ^ | April 8, 2004 | Reuel Marc Gerecht

[quidnunc]

Is Iraq's Shiite community on the verge of open rebellion against U.S. occupation? Is Muqtada al-Sadr, the rabble-rousing, pugnacious scion of Iraq's most famous clerical family, the cutting edge of a national Islamic front, uniting Arab Sunnis and Shiites against foreign intruders? America's entire post-Saddam plan for a democratic Iraq hinges on the cooperation, if not active support, of the Shiite clergy, especially Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the country's pre-eminent divine. Could America's military actions against Sadr and his armed followers destroy the all-critical American-Shiite alliance?

The answer to all of these questions is, in all likelihood, no. However, it is possible that American and Iraqi missteps in countering Sadr could gut the Bush administration's Iraq plans. To forestall this nightmare scenario, we need to have a good understanding of what Sadr is trying to wreak among the Shiite faithful.

Correctly understood, Sadr's guerrilla warfare against U.S. and allied soldiers is first and foremost a frontal assault on the traditional clergy led by Ayatollah Sistani, who is the de facto leader of the Shiite community. Though there have been growing and significant differences between the American-led Coalition Provisional Authority and the senior cleric — and Sadr has exploited these differences skillfully — the Shiite clerical establishment has been united in the belief that the American occupation of Iraq is an essential stepping-stone to a Shiite-led democracy. In Shiite eyes, democracy means, among other things, being free forever from Arab Sunni domination.

-snip-

[moni kerr]

Left alone Sadr will discredit himself.

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[lepton]

Correctly understood, Sadr's guerrilla warfare against U.S. and allied soldiers is first and foremost a frontal assault on the traditional clergy led by Ayatollah Sistani,

That's the core truth. We are a side-show. Sadr's real effort is to snatch power from other Iraqis, which he can't do in a civil manner.

[Unam Sanctam]

Gerecht always writes in this vein -- he always seems to be saying that we should simply do whatever the Ayatollah Sistani demands. But does that mean that we should agree to an elimination of minority protections from the majority Shiites even if the Ayatollah demands it?

[Thud]

ping

[Tribune7]

There are reports of fighting between Sadr's militia and another anti-coalition gorup.
.