Sistani

From the Washington Post, an article about the increasing prominence of Ayatollah Ali Sistani in Iraqi politics.

"... Sistani's supporters say he sees the clergy on the defensive, the lone check on an aggressive campaign by the U.S. occupation and its allies to build a secular society. In a handwritten response to questions last year, Sistani described secularism as Iraq's greatest threat. "There is a grave danger in obliterating [Iraq's] cultural identity, whose most important foundation is the honorable Islamic religion," he said. A government that reflects the majority's will "should respect the religion of the majority, adopt its values and not conflict in any of its decisions with any of the stipulations of that religion."

"He's driven by fear," Rubaie said, fear of secularism and "fanatic liberalism." He said Sistani acknowledges his call for elections is not grounded in Islam. Rather, he said, he is trying to hold the West to its pledges to bring democracy to Iraq.

"Some of Sistani's detractors -- among other sects and among more radical clergy loyal to Sadr's son, Moqtada -- have criticized Sistani's role. The disapproval often springs from his Iranian nationality. Others view his assertiveness as a response to criticism that his management style was weak.

"But among religious Shiites, Sistani's authority remains largely unquestioned. Their loyalty may be less to the man and more to the marja, the institution that, in the chaos of postwar Iraq, retains the most credibility with the community.

"In Rumaythah, where tribesmen gathered last week, conversation quickly turned to politics, and politics turned to Sistani. "We consider him the leader. If he says die, we die. If he says live, we live," said Aufi Abid Rahi, a tribal leader.

"If Sistani gives a word to fight, I will fight to the death," said Meshkur Abid Sayyah, another tribesman. "He's my marja."

Never mind the almost hagiographic media buzz Sistani, I can't help but wonder if Iraq will become a state in which all its citizens are free to worship as they see fit. It is possible that this tendency to have imams and ayatollahs whom the people obey and follow blindly is reflected in another and equally bad way in the political structure of many Arab countries in which there is rule by man rather than rule of law.

Did we waste lives and treasure in Iraq? I believe not. However, if the Iraqis choose bondage once more, instead of freedom, let it never be said that the U.S. did not make freedom possible for Iraq.