>>The media could use a bit of editing!
>>
>>MSNBC
>>
>>http://www.msnbc.com/news/901562.asp?vts=042320030825
>>
>>“For example, Iraq is an Arab nation while Iraq is not”.
>
>The article makes repeated mention of shiites... I think this deserves some explanation.
>
>The division between shiites and sunnites started soon after Muhammad's death. It is basically a division over the issue of succession. The shiites believe that Ali (nephew and son-in-law of Muhammad) was the rightful successor , "Imam"- he, and several of his descendants (usually 12 - the numbers vary depending on the exact sub-group within the shiites).
>
>The sunnites believe that the rightful successors to Muhammad were the "Khalifs".
>
>Of course, each side considers the leaders (and often the believers, too) of the other side as unlawful.
>
>In a course about Islam, I learned that there are ca 1000 million muslims in the World, of whom ca. 90% are sunnites. The shiites are majority in some countries, however - especially in Iran.

I believe 60% of the muslims in Iraq are also Shiites. Consider the war between Iran and Iraq. Politics and religion are like oil and water. When you try to mix them you have a "mess".

Tom