S. Iraq's Shiites want Iran to get out_
kansas ^ | 11/22/07 | AMIT R. PALEY AND SUDARSAN RAGHAVAN


BAGHDAD, Iraq - More than 300,000 Shiite Muslims from southern Iraq have signed a petition condemning Iran for fomenting violence in Iraq, according to a group of sheiks leading the campaign.

"The Iranians, in fact, have taken over all of south Iraq," said a senior tribal leader from the south who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his life. "Their influence is everywhere."

The unusually organized Iraqi rebuke illustrates the divisions that Iran has provoked among Iraq's majority Shiites. The prime minister and major political blocs are closely tied to Iran, but the petition organizers said many citizens are fiercely opposed to Iranian meddling in Iraqi affairs.


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http://www.kansas.com/news/nation_wo...ry/235022.html

You mean they didn't take to the streets in a government organized "spontaneous" protest to burn Iranian flags and shout "Death to Iran!" Signing petitions? Do they think they live in a Democracy?

Democratic strength hasn't really been used to that much effect in the Middle East -- other than the fact that Syria had to withdraw its overt control of Lebanon and switch to subtler means of domination. If the idea that democratic strength like peaceful mass mobilization, petitions, changing leadership in elections, etc. was an actual avenue to real change in Iraq then this might actually turn out well -- and they'd have one up on the USA too.