Oh Ron, please don't misunderstand, I have got absolutely no qualms whatsoever in making personal attacks against such likes as yourself. Whenever anybody (specifically you) enters into a discussion on something that somebody (GWB, et al) has said and opens with declaring that he (Ron) never actually bothers to listen to what was said or read what was actually said, but instead relies on what was reported, my immediate reaction is that that person (Ron) must be a complete and utter tosser. Little wonder Ron that your take on things is so misinformed.

The ONLY time that Al-Sadr EVER tried to play his hand in Iraq Ron was when he waited for Sistani to leave the country for medical treatment. Sistani came back and Al-Sadr wound his neck back in, very quickly, and that has been where it has remained ever since. There are far, far more Shia clerics throughout Iraq follow the teachings and advice given by Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani than listen to the likes of Al-Sadr, that is Al-Sistani's power and influence, he does not have to appear infront of the media frothing at the mouth and calling down death and destruction - that he could achieve with a whisper.

And No Ron, you are the one who lumps ALL Iraqi Sunni's together. Take a wade through our posts where they are mentioned. I tend to differentiate between Arab Sunni Iraqi's and Kurdish Sunni Iraqi's. You on the other hand tend to refer to the population of Iraq as being Shia, Sunni and Kurds, possibly through ignorance, or possibly due to denial that while Kurdish Sunni and Shia seem to live together quite peacefully, Arab Sunni and Shia cannot.