AYATOLLAH ENDORSES DEAN

James Joyner · Friday, January 16, 2004 · 4 Comments

Well, not really. But he sure sounds a lot like a Dean supporter: Iraq Aide Brands U.S. Formula As ‘Hasty’

An aide to Iraq’s most prominent Shiite Muslim cleric on Friday branded the U.S. formula for transferring power a “hasty agreement” aimed at boosting President George W. Bush’s re-election campaign.

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Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, the country’s most influential Shiite Muslim figure, has demanded that members of a new provisional legislature be chosen by the voters. The Americans want them selected in a series of regional caucuses.

U.S. officials insist al-Sistani’s demand for elections is unfeasible given Iraq’s security situation. Many Shiites suspect the Americans simply want to manipulate the caucuses to make sure favored Iraqis win seats.

FILED UNDER: Iraq Conflict

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About James Joyner
James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. Follow James on Twitter.

Comments

John Anderson says:

Friday, January 16, 2004 at 19:16

Love it! We are being ‘hasty’ by moving the timetable to July (well, I think so too, but…) so the obvious answer is – do it tomorrow!

And they wonder why we don’t understand them.

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Mithras says:

Friday, January 16, 2004 at 19:42

Yes, Muslim Clerics for Dean! has a good ring to it.

*ahem* Can we return to substance? Please?

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Mark Hasty says:

Friday, January 16, 2004 at 20:11

I don’t see what’s so wrong with a ‘Hasty’ formula.

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charles austin says:

Friday, January 16, 2004 at 22:29

Harrumph! Don’t be hasty, little ayotollah.

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