March 30, 2008
Shiite Muslims Aiming For Arab Super-State
Batten the hatches!
Iraq and Iran are making nice about Irbil. It is the capital of Iraq’s northern mostly-Kurdish province -- coveted by Iran, irritating to Turkey, and worrisome to the central government of Iraq.
A three-day Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting of Arab legislators -- at Irbil earlier this month -- called for Arab and Muslim solidarity in dealing with the many problems facing the Arab World.
According to “Voice of America News” -- the list of their chief concerns included foreign interference, terrorism, poor economies and inflation.
Delegates stressed that more support was needed for the Palestinians “after recent Israeli attacks.”
The Syrian delegate said the United States should end what he called “the occupation of Iraq and interference in the region.”
IRAN EYES IRAQ
It is interesting to note a report that Iran has contributed “millions of dollars” for construction of an Irbil airport and highway there -- miles beyond the Iranian border -- “to accommodate worshipers.”
Beware Iranians bearing gifts.
When ancient Greeks sought to conquer Troy ( Turkey) they built a huge wooden horse, hid five soldiers therein, and pretended to retreat.
Trojans dragged the trophy into their fort. That night, the Greek soldiers jumped from the great horse and opened the city gate to their comrades who proceeded to kill all the Trojans.
Today, in Iraq, one must wonder why Iran is funneling cash to a former, bitter enemy?
During their horrendous war of 1980-88 -- over a border waterway to the Persian Gulf -- it is estimated that 1.5 million Iraq and Iranian soldiers were killed.
It was just last month – at the Irbil conference -- that Iraq and Iran agreed to restore order. Nevertheless, relations between the two nations are still strained over Iran’s support of Shiite terrorists inside Iraq.
EGOMANIACS
Though Iraq and Iran appear to have cooled their mutual animosity, two egomaniacs continue to stoke the ancient fires of hate and distrust within their own countries -- as well as nation vs. nation.
Abdul Aziz al-Hakim
In Iraq, a young self-proclaimed cleric – Muqtada al-Sadr – has alternately opposed and cooperated with newly elected, democratic, leaders and American military.
Another Iraq cleric, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, also has an armed political-militia vying for supra-government power.
Muqtada al-Sadr
Sadr’s huge, personal militia helped the U.S. military “surge” establish order in Iraq. More recently, he has resumed opposition to democracy that does not put him in power.
Last week, Sadr proclaimed a campaign of “civil disobedience” to an Iraqi government army purge of private militias in Basra, Baghdad and other Shiite enclaves. The initial push killed 12 “outlaws” and wounded 18 others.
LIKEWISE IN IRAN
In Iran, another young firebrand -- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is President of the Islamic Republic. Previously he was the mayor of Tehran.
He is believed to have been a student agitator in the mob that stormed the U.S. Embassy at Tehran in 1979 and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.
Ahmadinejad won the presidency in 2005 by popular vote. However -- according to the Constitution of Iran -- he is subordinate to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The latter is a cleric who is commander-in-chief of the Armed forces and has the final word in all aspects of foreign and domestic policies.
Ahmadinejad is vociferously critical of the United States and promotes close contact with Russia, Venezuela and Syria.
Russia has furnished Iran with money and political support in the United Nations. More ominously, Russia sold uranium to Iran for processing into nuclear weapons.
The latter activity is worrisome because Ahmadinejad proposes to “wipe Israel off the map.”
MID-EAST MIX
The Mid-East mix of ancient animosities with militant-religion worries democratic nations. History has proved that politics and religion cannot be safely intertwined.
Throw in oceans of oil sloshing under shaky, belligerent countries hyped by religion – and we have reason to worry about a Third World War.
Iraq citizens have large populations of Sunni, Shiite and Kurd ethnicity.
Iran has Arab and Persian propensities as well as a dominant Shiite religion.
A festering urge is for the dominant Shiites in Iraq and Iran to merge, own all the oil, and establish a “pure” nation encircling the Persian Gulf.
You think the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is high-handed? Consider the propensities of an all-Shiite theocracy with an unlimited supply of black gold and the blessing of Allah.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
As this column is being penned, American jet aircraft have been called in to assist Iraq’s latest military effort to crack down on Sadr’s Mahdi Army stronghold in Baghdad.
His cohorts accuse rival Shiites in the government of trying to crush them before provincial elections this Fall.
Elsewhere in Iraq, great strides have been made in restoring public services in Iraq.
What more could, and should, the United States do to establish peace and prosperity to the Mideast?
Speak softly, carry a big stick, dig furiously for oil off Florida, and speed up coal technology.
Before castigating me, visit Anwr.org. Oil wells promote wild life in and out of the water.
By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist
