[Al Ahram, Egypt]

Kitabat, Iraq

America's Collaborators:

Are They Sunni or Shiite?

"Those who provide everything America needs at every level are not Shiites. … To say that Shiites are collaborators and Sunnis are not would require mental retardation and moral collapse."

Dr. Marwan Al-Janabi

Translated By James Jacobson

October 23, 2007

Iraq - Kitabat - Original Article (Arabic)

Before any reader misunderstands my meaning due to the headline, I must say that I – despite the fact that I'm Sunni by virtue of my family – don't favor Sunni or Shiite.

But I want to point out a phenomenon exploited by some Sunni politicians, which is a tendency to stigmatize our Shiite brothers since America occupied Iraq and handed governance to Shiites, after they came in on the back of U.S. tanks. These Sunnis intentionally ignore the fact that half of the politicians who currently run the U.S.-installed government are Sunni.

This sectarian chorus is dangerous for the independence of Iraq and the unity of its people, and we must disclose the facts and put them in your hands, dear reader, about what the real relationship is between treason and sect. I leave it to you to draw conclusions:

• Look at a map of the Arab nation from the Atlantic Ocean to the Persian Gulf and put your finger on any of the puppet regimes allied with America, and then tell me: What denomination rules that country? [Sunni]

THE MUSLIM WORLD

• Widen your gaze to the entire Islamic World [not just Arab] and look at Turkey and Pakistan, the two main pillars of American policy. It was from Pakistan that the operation to occupy Afghanistan was launched from, and it is Turkey that is fueling the operations of American forces in Iraq … what is the sect of America's “friends” in Pakistan and Turkey? Are they Sunni or Shiite? [Sunni]

• Then look at location of America's forces of hegemony … the military bases where land, water and air corridors are put to the service of the United States, particularly to feed their aggression against Iraq. Are they in Sunni or Shiite countries?

• And how about the other elements of American control. Who provides the energy for America's hegemony and aggression? Are they Sunni or Shiite?

These facts clearly demonstrate that those who provide everything America needs at every level are not Shiites. Rather, the Shiites in Iran are now threatened by an American strike that may destroy their country.

And as far as Iraq is concerned, the Sunni have entered the political process and have even welcomed the Americans. President George Bush was received on the ground in Ramadi [Al Anbar Province] and local Sunnis there have even received U.S. military and financial support to fight and eradicate the resistance. When Sunni politicians demanded proof that the political process that they deemed illegitimate could succeed, they were allotted more government and parliamentary positions. Things have gone so far that that the fierce Harat Al-Dari himself  sent friendly messages to America asking Washington to abandon Al-Maliki and talk to others!! [Al-Dari is Iraq's top Sunni sheik - see picture, right].

As for the resistance undertaken by the Al-Mahdi Army against the occupation, it's so counterfeit!!!

Having the approval of the “tribal chiefs” who support the resistance, Sunni politicians are drawing ever-closer to America, who assist the “Ottomans [Turks]” who occupy northern Iraq whenever they want to!!!

How amazing to be living in such an era of miracles …

If the resistance of Muqtada Al-Sadr was really sincere, it would support all resistance factions regardless of sect, and if they were truly concerned about treason, they would take a stand against all collaborators with America, regardless of sect.

To say that Shiites are collaborators and Sunnis are not would require mental retardation and moral collapse.

Sunni organizations (in the Gulf, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey) presented Iraq on a golden platter, while idiotic Sunni politicians bogusly accused Shiites of treason for "coordinating and cooperating with the Americans.” There's nothing to the charge, since that cooperation was only for the purpose of breaking the Sunni monopoly on power.

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