At the root of the political and economic problems that have resulted in the current standoff between the two regional powers, is two diverging forms of Islam: a more tolerant and rational Shia Islam as opposed to a more fundamentalist and violent Sunni Islam. Saudi Arabia is expanding its hegemony through economic aid, building mosques and supplying Wahhabi imams. Fundamentalism – a bed partner with IS ideology – is even emerging in tolerant countries: Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia. There is an urgent need to reform Islam if it is to be rescued from its most profound crisis in the last two centuries.
Having grown up in the aftermath of the Iran hostage crisis I never thought I’d see the day where Iran style Shia Islam would be described as more tolerant and rational in comparison to something else.
Having grown up in the aftermath of the Iran hostage crisis I never thought I’d see the day where Iran style Shia Islam would be described as more tolerant and rational in comparison to something else.
Sadly, can’t say this isn’t anything new…its more like the fact that two people who have been scheming against each other since the End of World War 2 have decided to take the gloves off finally since the resident “big brothers” (America and Russia) don’t seem interested anymore in trying to enforce any sense of peace.
The whole war in Syria is essentially a proxy war between Sunni and Shi’ite nations.
Its why the Saudi Government still is channeling money to Radical islamic groups (that aren’t ISIS) and why Iran convinced Hezbollah (normally aimed against the Jewish state) to fight off those radical Islamic groups in Syria.
They are both being bold about this because…they know America will do nothing.
So all that resentment they’ve nutured and festered for years on end gets to come out and finally express itself…
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