Wednesday, February 16, 2005
The Shiites keep talking the talk
The persistent wise moderation of Ayatollah Sistani and his team continues to set a standard for the Arab world. Very few men with such influence would show such restraint in the context in which he must operate.
Keep your fingerscrossed arched in a crescent.
The shy family doctor who has become the leading candidate for the job of Iraqi prime minister said yesterday that ending the country's rampant violence is his top priority and that U.S. troops will remain as long as they are needed to achieve that goal.
Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a 58-year-old moderate Shiite who fled a brutal crackdown by Saddam Hussein in 1980, also spoke in the interview about drafting a constitution that will draw not only on Islam for inspiration.
"Islam should be the official religion of the country, and one of the main sources for legislation, along with other sources that do not harm Muslim sensibilities," said Dr. al-Jaafari, who returned from exile in London to serve as Iraq's interim vice-president after Mr. Hussein's regime was overthrown.
He said he supports women's rights, including the right to be the president or prime minister, as well as self-determination and individual freedoms for all Iraqis.
Keep your fingers
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