Religion may rule in Iraq after all

[maxrandb]

http://www.dispatch.com/national-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/05/02/20050502-A1-00.html&chck=t

Careful what you wish for, eh?

Link requires registration or subscription. I'll try to find a better link from Knight Ridder.

"BAGHDAD, Iraq — The significance of the new Iraqi government was plain at prayers throughout Baghdad last week, as cries of "Victory to Islam!" echoed through Shiite Muslim mosques where worshipers celebrated leaders that look, think and pray like them.

With Iraq’s first Islamist-led government since the fall of the Ottoman Empire expected to take office this week, it’s getting more difficult for the Bush administration to realize its dream of molding the nation into a secular, inclusive democracy. Instead, the January elections gave rise to a conservative Shiite brain trust with close ties to Iran and power enough to make its secular rivals nervous.

In another example of the new government’s ideology appearing on a public stage, al-Jaafari’s Dawa Party held an anniversary gala last week at which Dawa leaders extolled al-Jaafari as a Shiite
"evangelical" and praised the conservative movement sweeping the country. "Iraq has turned into a big mosque — schools and universities and streets have become mosques," Khudair al-Khuzai, a Dawa spokesman, told the audience."

This could be a story about the Republican Party, couldn't it? I mean look at these two phrases and see how easily they could fit our current political climate. extolled al-Jaafari as a Shiite evangelical (could be talking about Senator Frist), and praised the conservative movement sweeping the country (could be Ralph Reed or Jerry Falwell)

Make no mistake about it, this is what some on the right want for our country as well.

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[blogbear]

9. welcome to DU..(psst..I like Gomo)..

[CTLawGuy]

6. no its not...

the first amendment that fundies love to hate protects their right to speak and vote.

but I think a theocracy in Iraq was not what Bush had in mind for Iraq when he invaded, especially a theocracy friendly to Iran.

[renaissanceguy]

12. No, he wanted a theocracy

though a Christian theocracy.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.21518002

[maxrandb]

13. How Quickly People Forget

Wasn't Nazi Germany a "Christian" Nation?

Didn't Hitler come to power, in part, by questioning the morals of those currently in power?

Didn't Hitler come to power, in part, by extolling "family values" and virtue?

Let's not forget that not all "Christian" Nations, have truly been "Christ-like"

[CTLawGuy]

16. in Iraq?

I agree with you if you're talking about here though.

[sweetladybug]

10. John_Wayne777, we all have the right to exercise our own religion BUT

we SHOULD NOT force our religious beliefs on others! (if this happens, just think, it could be your own religious beliefs being condemned and attacked later on)

[qanda]

11. Huh?

There is quite a difference between free exercise of religion and adopting a Theocracy as your form of government. Your response is confusing.

[acmavm]

2. Well, funny thing is it sure as hell isn't what the bush** crowd wanted

for Iraq.

[Tesha]

3. What a surprise! Who'd have guessed?

Answer: The "focus groups" who marched by the millions around the
world in an attempt to *PREVENT* the war.

Tesha

[sam sarrha]

4. That was OBVIOUS from the beginning..I was a Peace Corps 1973 in

an Islamic Republic.. I saw that comming before they went in.. I was Not impressed with the Islam there, nor their.."Republic". the Arabs had an Open Street Slave Market.. right out in the open!! they stold Moorisn children and sold them into slavery. the market is STILL THERE.. today, where you can buy a 6 to 12 year old child for less than $100, i have heard usually about $50 of $60 dollars.

Delusions of grandure..!!!!!!!!! from one thing to another.. WAR, Social Sicurity, the house of cards Homeland Security.. they dont even have an office.. the money was never given to them .. Bu$h alocates the money for HLS, the Schools etc.. but it never gets there.. where the hell does all that money go..?? Israel ??

[HereSince1628]

8. The US has a long history of propping up monarchies and dictatoriships

propping up Fundamentalist states isn't going to be a big new step.
Just look at our relationship with Pakistan.

So long as the US gets to have its military bases and there is some semblance of oil trade re-established I don't think it much matters.

The only other critical issue is to prevent Iraq from developing as a functional threat to our "regional friends."

[maxrandb]

14. Yes! Don't Forget the Holy Oil. n/t

[Daphne08]

15. Here's a link to the story that doesn't require

registration:

Headline is different, but it's the same story.

"Tension between devout Shiites, secular groups threaten Iraq's future"

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/11539296.htm

[grahamhgreen]

17. Islamic Republics

"Afghanistan is an Islamic Republic", thus opens the new Afghan constitution. Apostacy (leaving the Islamic faith) is still punishable by death in Afghanistan (not to mention adultery, and a slew of others).

Soon, we will have an Islamic republic in Iraq.

Pretty much the exact opposite of bringing freedom to the mid-east.

Perhaps this is what Bush and his Saudi buddies wanted all along.

I don't understand how anyone, especially the religious right, can justify this.

[K8-EEE]

18. BushCO Is Totally Opposed To Secular Government HERE....

But expects to FORCE one THERE....that makes sense. NOT!

[daleo]

19. Suppose Bush would have said, in early 2003

"I am willing to see thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of Iraqis killed and wounded, in order to replace Saddam Hussein's secular government with an Islamic theocracy."

He would have been wrong about the numbers of dead and wounded though, as each could be multiplied by 10.

[MountainLaurel]

20. Hooray: Another fundamentalist nation

They'll fit right in with the U.S. in a few years when we become the Republic of Gilead.