Iran overreaching in Iraq? There has been little evidence of fissures between Shi'ites and Iraq and Shi'ites in Iran up to this point. From a strategic standpoint regarding defense against the global jihad, U.S. officials should see this as a positive development. Whether or not they actually will is another question. From Reuters, with thanks to John:
BASRA, Iraq, June 14 (Reuters) - A crowd accusing Iranian television of insulting an Iraqi cleric attacked Iran's consulate in the city of Basra on Wednesday, setting fire to an annex of the compound, Reuters television footage showed.Hundreds of protesters outside the consulate chanted slogans against an Iranian satellite station which they said had aired a programme slandering prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric Mahmoud al-Hasani, who has many followers in the oil-rich Iraqi city.
Thick smoke billowed near the newly-opened complex in Iraq's second city, which is patrolled by British forces.
One demonstrator climbed up the roof of a building in the compound and hoisted an Iraqi flag, a Reuters cameraman said.
A cleric who addressed the crowd outside demanded an apology from the government in neighbouring, mainly Shi'ite Iran.
"If our demand is not met we will not be able to hold back these angry crowds," Ahmed al-Budairi, an aide of Hasani, told the demonstrators. The Iranian television station was not immediately available for comment....
I read on Debka File that the demonstration outside the consulate was joined by hundreds of thousands of Hispanic protesters demanding Iranian citizenship.
What will they stop at?
TYPICAL Muslim reaction! Their reaction to anything or anyone. Protest, Yell, Burn , Shoot, Destroy, Bomb, Kill, (even if the offender is on their side). Have you ever seen a "peaceful" Muslim protest??
Must be something they read that gives such strong instruction about behavior, (clue: it is not the Ten Commandments).
Cheering. The more of all against all, everywhere in Dar al-Islam, the better.
:)
*) = :-(
*~@):~{>
Islam: Dumb and Dumber.
jsla and profitsbeard
What's with the frowns?
Hugh
This news, if significant, could have other repercussions as well for the Shi'ites. Right now, in Khuzestan, they have Arab Shi'ites, who would probably be aligned to Najaf, rather than Teheran. Given that, if such a thing does blow up, wouldn't that ignite the fissures in Iran you've been calling for?
Not to mention the all vs. all. What does Hizbullah think of this - whose side are they on? On one hand, they are Arabs. Otoh, they are paid servants of Iran. Decisions, decisions...