On 5/13/05, Nick Arnett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Thu, 12 May 2005 22:01:20 -0500, Dan Minette wrote > > > Here's one example. Karbala and is buried there. For Shiites, his > > tomb is the holiest site outside of Mecca and Medina, Among other > > things, Hussein prohibited the pilgrimages to Karbala, on the > > anniversary of Husayn's (the Prophet's grandson) death. They are now > > able to go. > > Yes... and no, to the extent that stuff blowing up here and there is a good > reason to stay home. And there are curfews, difficulty getting gas (which is > much more expensive, but still quite a bargain compared to here, IIRC).
Saddam was a secularist and oppressed the religious fanatics. He later politically embraced some elements of Islam but still it was a political decision and fantastical Shites especially were oppressed. I am not sure if I see ceremonies of religious ecstasy with blood running in the streets from self-mutilation necessarily a step in the right direction. I am not sure it is a step in the wrong direction but it is a step in a different direction about as bad. It remains likely that Iran will get the most benefit from this war: A friendly Shiite state opposed to the Saudi monarchy and with personal knowledge of the worth of American promises. - Gary Denton Easter Lemming Blogs http://elemming.blogspot.com http://elemming2.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
