If this doesn't start a civil war in Iraq then I think we just might make things right over there, but I wouldn't bet against the Shi'ites and Sunni's going at it soon.
BUT look at who is going to foot the bill to rebuild it? And I am SURE that none of that will be remembered by the ragheads over there as they continue to cuss us, burn our flags and harm our guys over there.
"...U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and the top American commander in Iraq called the bombings a deliberate attempt to foment sectarian strife and warned it was a "critical moment for Iraq." They also promised the U.S. would contribute to the shrine"s reconstruction.
"Given the historic, cultural, and religious importance of this shrine, this attack is a crime against humanity," Khalilzad and Gen. George Casey said in a joint statement.
President Bush urged restraint among rival religious factions in Iraq, and pledged American help to restore the revered Shiite shrine.
"The United States stands ready to do all in its power to assist the government of Iraq to identify and bring to justice those responsible for this terrible act," Bush said in a statement. "And the American people pledge to work with the people of Iraq to rebuild and restore the Golden Mosque of Samarra to its former glory."..."
So we have spent what half a trillion over there trying to bring these two too the bargaining table, now one of them has blown up one of the most historic symbols in the world and what do we get out of it?
A multi-million dollar repair bill for our troubles???[:@]
RA
Al Qaeda and many other Islamic terrorist groups in Iraq and elsewhere are led by Sunnis. With Iraq's governmentgrowing stronger day by day, these terroristsare being marginalized more and more. They're simply trying to use civil war fueled by generations of sectarian hatred in order to do the job they've failed at (destroying the Iraqi government).
While this attack is despicable by any standards, look at the opportunity that has arisen. If we indeed help restore the shrine, we will have a chance to bring more Shi'ites over to our side. That's not to say they'll be waving the Red, White and Blue, but we'll certainly have more influence among the Shi'ite leadership.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, saysthe US and Israel blew up the Shia shrine in Iraq.
In a speech in front of a crowd of thousands in southwestern Iran, the president referred to the destruction of the Askariya mosque's golden dome in Samarra on Wednesday.
Of the US-led forces in Iraq, Ahmadinejad said: "They invade the shrine and bomb there because they oppose God and justice. These passive activities are the acts of a group of defeated Zionists and occupiers who intended to hit our emotions."
Addressing the US, he said: "You have to know that such an act will not save you from the anger of Muslim nations."
The attack on the Askariya shrine, which contains the tombs of two revered imams descended from Prophet Muhammad, was widely condemned in the Arab world on Wednesday.
Condemnation
Jordan's King Abdullah II called it "heinous". Fuad Saniora, Lebanon's prime minister, said it was aimed at "splitting Shia and Sunni Muslims".
While Kuwait's new amir, Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, said those who target holy places and kill innocent people are "as far as can be from the teachings of Islam".
Some Muslim leaders and the Lebanese Hizb Allah organisation blamed the United States.
Shaikh Youssef al-Qaradawi, a leader Sunni scholar, said: "We cannot imagine that the Iraqi Sunnis did this. No one benefits from such acts other than the US occupation and the lurking Zionist enemy."
Iraqi Shia leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, who cut short a visit to Lebanon to return to Iraq after the blast, said blame must be laid either with the Americans or the Iraqi government.
Al-Sadr added: "If responsibility is not in the hands of the Iraqi government, then I consider the responsibility for this event lies with the occupation forces which should either leave immediately or according to a timetable."
The Iraqi Interior Ministry said four men, one wearing military uniform and three in black, entered the Askariya mosque early on Wednesday and detonated two bombs, one of which collapsed the dome.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
My first impression was that Sunni terrorists blew up the shrine earlier this week, but I'm starting to suspect Iran more and more. After analyzing the rhetoric of Ahmedinejad and others close to Iran, it only makes sense that Tehran is calling these shots from behind the scenes.
To quote a post of mine in another thread:
Quote:
When Arab countries descend into instability and turmoil, Iran wins power and influence over the region. One of the easiest ways to create that kind of chaos is to re-open the wounds of the Sunni-Shi'ite conflicts spanning the past thousand years. With the two factions fighting each other, Iran can move in swiftly before the dust has settled.
Iran has never stopped funding and leading terror operations throughout the world since the mullahs usurped power in 1979, so no sane person would ever doubt their intentions. What's changed today is that Iran is a year or two away from creating a nuclear warhead that can be launch via missile. The U.S. and Europe, among many Middle Eastern nations, have upped the stakes and increased diplomatic pressure on Tehran.
I think this could way Ahmedinejad's way of telling us that they're going to put up a fight. No surprise, but the world needs to realize how serious the issue is if we're going to stop these nutjobs.
You may be on to something there Aught , most Iranians are Shiite , and the Shiites have always hated the Sunnis .
Tick ... tick ... tick ... tick ...
Indeed. But, I must remind everyone of something. The Iranians are ethnically Persian, whereas the Iraqis are Arab. The two have been at each other's throats for a thousand years, andregardless of the Sunni-Shi'ite "rivalry".
I don't think Iran can or will rely on the Iraqi Shi'ites for mainstream support. Iran is in this for itself and itself only. The Iraqi Shi'ites would simply make a good tax base once Tehran decides to expand its authority. I don't think the Supreme Council of Ahmedinejad really care who dies as long as they get the land and the oil that comes with it.
Askariya Shrine in Samarra destroyed!!!
