Shia-istan
Nobody speaks openly about it but is Southern Iraq slowly becoming 'Shia-istan'? Threatened by Sunni insurgents and intimidated by their Arab neighbours, the Shias are pushing for autonomy.
"I tell all Arab countries and those afraid of Shia majority power in Iraq - in future we will be even more powerful", vows Shia Commander, Seyyed Helo. Shias already dominate the police and army. It's becoming harder and harder to distinguish between Shia militias and sectarian death squads. Shia pilgrims, Haydar and Maher, planned to set up a resistance group to fight the Americans. But when extremists bombed their Holy shrine at Samara, they changed their plan. "We decided to get intelligence about Wahabis", they explain. "We kidnap them, break their bones and get their confessions on disc. Then we shoot them". Many Shias believe the current US military surge is part of a conspiracy with Sunni countries against them. "Some countries are actively helping large numbers of terrorists to enter", complains Amar Hakim. Saudi Arabia has openly said it will help the Sunnis when the Americans leave. With Iraq's Arab neighbours allying behind the Sunnis, Iran is training and arming Shia militias. What will happen should America withdraw?
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