Explosion Destroys Dome of Shiite Shrine

Lebanese Shiite Muslims rally to protest attack on Iraq shrine

Beirut, Feb. 24 (AP): Tens of thousands of Lebanese Shiite Muslims beat their chests in mourning and shouted slogans against the United States in a rally to protest the bombing of a sacred Shiite shrine in Iraq.

The bombing of the shrine in Iraq - and bloody reprisal attacks by Shiites that have followed - underlined the rising tensions between Shiites and Sunnis across the Mideast, fuelled by the violence in Iraq and extremists' desire to divide Muslims.

Leaders of both communities have called for calm and tried to shift attention - and blame - to the United States.

"Let's not blame each other. We shouldn't give them that opportunity. We should limit the accusations against the American occupation, its agents and murderers," Hezbollah leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, yesterday told the crowds gathered at a soccer field and adjoining streets in south Beirut, a stronghold of the Shiite militant organisation.

Nasrallah described US President George W Bush as a "killer" and ridiculed his offer to rebuild the shrine's Golden Dome.

"I tell him, don't destroy our sanctities and don't rebuild them. You are destroying our sanctities. Who are you fooling?"

Bush had said yesterday that the United States was serious in its commitment to help rebuild the Golden Mosque.

"We understand its importance to Iraqi society and we want to stand side by side with the government in making sure that beautiful dome is restored," Bush said.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200602241012.htm

Originally posted by Leonidas Originally posted by Aydin Believe it or not, there are Muslims out there sick enough to commit these acts...who do you think makes up Al-Qaeda? I think some people here cant accept the fact, there are bad guys on all sides.

This is obviously meant at me. 

I disagree, Leonidas.  I don't think we're angels, and I don't think the West (or the Political West, i.e. America) is the Greatest Satan, like someone had suggested earlier. 

I will readily accept that our governments are corrupt, and our religion is twisted to serve some peoples' political agendas.  I will also accept and condemn that there are Muslims who are capable of violence.  Truth is truth, and it shouldn't upset anyone.  Here's my first response in this thread:

Originally posted by Mira Yes, it's outrageous and intolerable.  The culprits should be punished - whoever they are, and whatever religion/sect they belong to.

Originally posted by SearchAndDestroy President Bush said that the US government will be putting money towards restoring the shrine. Do you think that will calm most of the Shia down if it is restored? Has it been confirmed yet if anyone died inside besides those who blew themselves up?

Why are we going to be wasting money rebuilding someone elses shrine that we did not destroy.  The USA has plenty of its own shrines and monuments in need of restoration that money could be spent on.  As for the claim that Israel, England and the USA conspired to destory the shrine, that is rediculous.  The fact is that radical islamic terrorists are now blowing up their own shrines and monuments to further their cause.  On another note, what is the condition of the interior of the shrine now?  Have the tombs and bodies of the imams buried in it been destroyed?

EDIT:  I find it disturbing that some members on this site are advocating that terrorists direct their attacks towards Israel and the USA.

Edited by R_AK47

The civil war like environment in Iraq is growing to severe proportions. I tend to look at the analogy 'as the glue that binds'. With Tito's Yugoslavia there was communism but not anarchy. Once he was off the scene chaos followed. Same with Iraq. We all know Saddam is prosecuted, rightly so, for harms against his own citizens. Yet he was also a type of glue that bonded his country together. Once taken out of the picture, a restless undermining of newly appointed 'American' authority is violently challenged. Not only that the inner rumblings of the numerously different ethnic and religious factions are at eachothers throats.  

Edited by Seko

Good point.

Saddam infamously came to power as he left it, with violence. Unifying a country is a strange thing.

Edited by Seko

Originally posted by pikeshot1600 Originally posted by Omar al Hashim Well Pikeshot, you just answered your own question Originally posted by Pikeshot1600 No, a civil war is in the interests of Iran, and Syria and Saudi Arabia and probably numerous factions (political, religious and criminal) indigenous to Iraq.  The last thing any of those entities want is an Iraq that succeeds and by doing so threatens their perceived vital interests.....i.e. their power to monopolize control of their respective populations and the wealth of their countries. Originally posted by pikeshot1600 It probably threatens the security of Iran and Saudi Arabia and Syria more. Originally posted by Pikeshot1600 economic benefit of alternative and hybrid energy sources can be appreciated. Divide and conquer is the oldest page in the book, I can probably look up a Sun Tzu quote for you. A united Iraq all fighting america is against americas interests, a divided Iraq fighting each other as well as america is an improvement from the american point of view. Omar:  Your interpretation of the probable scenario and its result is different than mine.  No problem.  It is just as probable that we are both wrong.

Yeah thats true. Any news coming out of Iraq is about as reliable as hersay. We're all siting here talking about the situation, when none of us probably know anything about the situation. I suspect there is a thousand ways to interpret any news from Iraq