An article in the Saturday edition of the Wall Street Journal by Robert McFarlane former national security advisor to President Reagan.
He talks about a recent meeting in June of leading Iraqi sunni and shia clerics at the Marriot Hotel in Cairo. At this meeting the clerics of both sects came out with a statement of unity which reads, "end terrorist violence and to disband militia activity in order to build a civilized country and work within the framework of the law".
At this meeting representing the sunnis was Shiek Ahmed al Kubaisi who is acknowledged by all Iraqi sunnis as their leader-----and the Ayotolla Sistani's (supreme shia leader) chief of staff (a total of 70 Iraqi clerics). Their stated intention at the conclusion of the meeting is at some point in the near future to issue a joint sunni-shia "Fatwa", which is equivilant to a religious law for all followers-----whereby reconciliation will be mandated.
Think about that---can there be a political reconciliation without a religious reconciliation?----doesn't appear possible to me so the clerics are moving into the political power vacuum----that's why a joint Fatwa would be a major step forward.
McFarlane's report says that the next meeting is scheduled "within 2 weeks" in Najaf, Iraq----where Ayotolla Sistani has invited the senior sunni cleric to meet with him. McFarlane states that this is the first time in Iraqs history where the leading shia leader and sunni leader sit down together.
The motivation here is the endless and senseless killing, the desire to get the US out of Iraq (a desire we share under the right circumstances), and the alarm of growing Iranian influence in southern Iraq.
This process McFarlane points out could be the beginning of a turning point in the "wretched history of Iraq"-----I agree!
