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Dr. Pipes, I have to disagree with you here.

Reader comment on item: Iraq's Cosmetic Election

Submitted by Aymenn Jawad (United Kingdom), Mar 9, 2010 at 15:15

Dr. Pipes, how can you claim that once the Americans leave 'Iranian-backed Islamists soon take over'? The Iraqi population is nowhere near as receptive to Iranian-style theocracy as you seem to suggest. For one thing, Iraq's leading cleric, Ayatollah Sistani, opposes the concept of velayet-e-fiqh and Iran's form of government. Also, note that the former leading Shi'a Islamist coalition, the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) has split as Al-Maliki has formed a non-sectarian, Iraqi nationalist State of Law Coalition that is projected to win the most votes in the election (for more information on this split see http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/112/0/3619.htm).

It is true that Al-Maliki and the Dawa party are friendly to the Revolutionary Guard Corps, but they are not directly Iranian-backed and want to keep Iranian influence out of Iraqi politics. Moreover, the main Iranian-backed party, SCIRI, did poorly in the provincial elections last year and is not likely to be successful in Jaafari's coalition this election (see http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/3219.htm for more). Indeed, the Shi'a in Iraq, having for the most part gained control of a country that has effectively been under Sunni-minority rule since Iraq's independence in 1932, are not really impressed with the Iranian regime, but are more concerned that the Sunni 'Arabs', a minority composing at most 20% of Iraq's population, might attempt to seize power with the help of Sunnis outside Iraq. Finally, you appear to make the assumption that once American forces withdraw the US will stop sending aid of any sort to the Iraqi regime and thereby it will collapse: there is absolutely no evidence to suggest anything of the sort.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (29) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
What music company do you like? Mojoheadz record label is a Extraordinary! [46 words]BonaUnreataJan 14, 2021 06:28262843
Only stable Islamic governments are monarchies [220 words]PPSApr 1, 2010 02:53170838
Good reason to be despondent... Iraqi cities will burn and we will abandon her, says prophet Jeremiah [104 words]Jeff AhrendtMar 31, 2010 12:51170824
The problem with cosmetic democracies [59 words]markiecorkMar 30, 2010 07:19170769
Only assuming Iranian clerics stay in power [77 words]SandyMar 16, 2010 14:01170233
Iraqi children can ink their fingers when their parents vote [245 words]John in Michigan, USAMar 13, 2010 20:29170089
I agree ! [170 words]Nelson HortonMar 11, 2010 16:46169988
A rather demeaning world attitude? [71 words]Furor TeutonicusMar 10, 2010 02:49169920
For once I disagree with Prof. Pipes [146 words]G BormanMar 9, 2010 21:55169914
yes that is what probably will happen, but , it would be nice to think that maybe, the good people of Iraq will use this gift of freedom to continue to keep said freedom. ...Mar 2010 [65 words]Phil GreendMar 9, 2010 21:18169913
Realism Personnified [54 words]ZentristMar 9, 2010 20:15169910
The Issue in Iraq is Islam, Nothing but Islam [1444 words]Prof. Paul EidelbergMar 9, 2010 20:03169909
Nothing but Islam [36 words]Nenette GrunbergMar 10, 2010 14:50169909
re: The Issue is Islam, Nothing but Islam [98 words]MattMar 13, 2010 10:45169909
Come see for yourself. [15 words]Francis BrookeMar 9, 2010 18:38169906
Yes. The job must be finished. [99 words]Abu NudnikMar 9, 2010 15:28169898
Dr. Pipes, I have to disagree with you here. [264 words]Aymenn JawadMar 9, 2010 15:15169895
So what was the point of the invasion, then? [250 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
MattMar 9, 2010 14:20169893
RE: [82 words]MattMar 30, 2010 10:52169893
Cynical Mind [247 words]Nenette GrunbergMar 9, 2010 13:27169892
Islam & Democracy Do Not Mix [102 words]Mike RamirezMar 9, 2010 13:18169890
Iraq votes [74 words]2outspokenMar 9, 2010 13:05169889
Anticipating Iraq's Final Assimilation [346 words]M. ToveyMar 9, 2010 12:30169887
Forwarded Sentiments of Dr. Pipes Premonitions Coming True [125 words]M ToveyJan 14, 2021 18:54169887
When Elections Trump Civic Institution Building & The Teaching Of Tolerant Norms, NOTHING Civil Can Emerge [131 words]Adina KutnickiMar 9, 2010 12:24169886
Cheer Up [89 words]Wayne LucasMar 9, 2010 12:08169885
The end of Iraq [71 words]Tarek FatahMar 9, 2010 11:58169884
End of Iraq at the hands of the Kurds, as seen by Jeremiah [120 words]Jeff AhrendtMar 31, 2010 13:22169884
Thanks [27 words]Ray in SeattleMar 9, 2010 11:26169883

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