quote: Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric has been quietly issuing religious edicts declaring that armed resistance against U.S.-led foreign troops is permissible — a potentially significant shift by a key supporter of the Washington-backed government in Baghdad.
and
quote: Maybe after five years of waiting for us draw down, his patience has finally run out. Or maybe it was just a shot across the bow, a way of telling us that a long-term American presence is not in the cards.
There's no way to know for sure based on this single report. Still, it's probably not too much to say that if Sistani turns openly against us, our continued presence in Iraq will truly become impossible. He may have decided that if we're not going to set a timetable ourselves for leaving, he's going to set one for us.
posted 23 May 2008 09:03 AM
Since Iraq's puppet Sunni-led government is cracking down on Shiites to enforce its own dominance and control its no surprise they (and their US backers) are growing increasingly unpopular with said community. Recent attacks by this government against Shiites seem to have little to do with enhancing security and stability and everything to do with power consolidation by the ruling clique.
Of course as someone with no personal experience in Iraq's culture, my reading of the situation could be far off the mark.