Meanwhile, Iraqi Sunni politicians are eagerly pushing for internationalization, even as they claim to be fighting foreign (American) intervention, perhaps with an eye toward sympathetic Arab despots. Iraq’s Shi’a (Shiite) politicians are wary of foreign intervention for precisely the same reason: mindful of Sunni Arab regimes hostile to the idea of one man/woman one vote that brought the Shi’a-Kurdish coalition to power. Some of them, including Sadrist legislators, have warned against internationalizing the situation in Iraq, which probably means ‘Arabising' it. Th Sunnis have always looked to the rest of the Arab World as a strategic extension: this has been a means of overcoming their numerical inferiority within Iraq, and legetimizing their past hegemony. This explains their strong espousal of nationalist pan-Arab ideology, including the Ba’ath: it was basically a tribal-ethnic motive covered with a veneer of secular, albeit Fascist, ideology. Now they seem to be drifting toward espousal of a new straw in the sea of Iraq: the Wahhabi ideology of the Jihadists as a new alternative, and this takes them deeper into the cultural and religious intolerance of Saudi Arabia, even as the kingdom is struggling with its own al Qaeda Jihadist menace. It will also bring them under the wide financial wings of the kingdom.

Ruler and God in Arabia:
In Saudi Arabia, a  famous Islamic scholar, Dr. M al-Ahmari has criticized a new officially-sponsored contest to memorize only certain parts of the Hadith, the sayings of the prophet Mohammed. The contest centers on the sayings of the Prophet that emphasize 'obediance to the ruler'. These sayings are purported to admonish Moslems to obey the ruler no matter how oppressive he is, as long as he allows prayers to beheld, i.e as long as he keeps building mosques. Hint: a lot of mosques have been built in Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf monarchies, most of them are usually empty. Abu Huraira, who was a companion of the Prophet for a short time, apparently claimed that the Prophet demanded blind obediance to the ruler, no matter how abhorrent this ruler, under the threat of heresy.
Arab rulers have always tried to identify themselves with the state, the nation. Any criticism of the ruler is presented as an insult to the nation. Now they have found a new angle, identifying themselves with the Deity: any criticism of the ruler could be presented as a defiance of God's will. The real Sun Kings are all Arab, except they don't wear wigs and don't powder their faces. They do, however, use a lot of incense and myrrh.

A study by the Saudi Ministry of Religious Affairs indicates a deep and worrisome reliance on magic, witchcraft, and other forms of mumbo jumbo in the kingdom. Data indicate that 20% of 'clients' seek magic in order to make someone desire or love them, or someone else. A slightly less percentage (18%) use these extra-sensible means to separate lovers and married couples. Some do it to cure sickness, or to get rich quick.

The Mullah Hybrid:
Former Iranian General Asghari has disappeared in, where else, Istanbul. The Iranians initially claimed that he may have been kidnapped by the Israelis or the Americans, then they went silent. The West were also silent for a while. Now there are reports that the man may have been a double agent and may have defected.

Iran has started an auto plant in Syria. A new car, called Sham is being produced. Sham is the old Arabic term for the geographic area of Greater Syria: this is what Syrians call their country even today- perhaps it is derived from that same Hebrew word. No word yet if the car is Shi'a or Sunni, or if it is a hybrid . Some Syrian officials said they hoped this would be a step toward improving technology and industry in their country. Considering Iran a desirable source of high technology tells a lot about the sorry low state of industry and technology in Syria.
Cheers
Mohammed