re: unbelievable!!! didnt take them long....
Not too sure about the Shiites in Iraq but a true Islamic state is by definition non pluralistic. I noticed Bush saying something to the effect that what we are seeing in the Shii demonstrations is democracy at work and if Iraq wants an Islamic State that's OK by him, as long as, and this gives the lie to the US supporting a full blown Islamic state, there is religious freedom for all. ie. Muslims of all varieties, Christians ( who would be mainly secularists ie. seperation of church and state) and presumably all the rest of the secularists including atheists, agnostics etc.
I would suggest the Muslims calling for the Yanks to go home are more concerned that infidels (non Muslims) are desecrating the "holy Islamic land" and thus give themselves away as extremists who would not be pluralists and would, given the power, tend to persecute the minorities like the one million Christians and less extreme Muslims and non believers.
Saddam had a soft spot for the Christians and gave them free land and finance for building their churches plus free power etc. I read that he donated a pipe organ to a Presbyterian church in Baghdad. (It was said he liked the Christians because they caused him no trouble and ,from his perspective, were model citizens).
Bush has proved himself one tough customer and I'd back him in the long run against the religious extremists. Maybe the "mad Mullahs" will act in the country's best interest by modifiying their Islamic state concept to be more pluralistic. It will be fascinating to see how it plays out in proximity to the Islamic State of Iran,given that there is some internal pressure for political change within Iran.
