Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

I knew Azerbaijan was Shiite but I did not associate them with the battle in the holy city of Najaf. This is another reason Rumsfeld made an urgent trip to Azerbaijan. Shite Azerbaijan holds the key to the U.S. quest for Caspian oil and by now it must be dawning on the morons running this country that Azerbaijan is not exactly enamored of the U.S. attack on their sacred shrine.
#msg-3828588

Very possibly repercussions from Najaf in the Caspian.
Like we thought, so many levels.

"Baku government has established strong ties with the Islamic countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey, since religion plays quite a significant role in Azerbaijan Republic's social and cultural affairs." The Azeri official referring to the ongoing anti-religion moves in the world and the attraction of religious teachings for the world nations today, reiterated, "Keeping in mind the prevailing global crises, the world is now on the brink of the quite unfortunate crash of civilizations." He added, "The Islamic countries can play a decisive role as one of the major axes of the global political developments, so that the quite probable clash of civilizations could be avoided."
http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_2704.shtml

Shiites constitute about 10% of the world's Muslims, and are the majority population in Iran (93%) and Azerbaijan (61%). They comprise large communities in India and Pakistan (over 50 million total), but are the majority in only two Arab nations, tiny Bahrain (65%) and Iraq (60%). In Iraqi Shiism, the Arab and Indo-Iranian worlds intersect, and by chance the holiest site of Shiism is located in a proud Arab country, next door to the Shiite powerhouse of Iran, and now surrounded by foreign invaders. The latter, under fire from the general population, come to hate, fear and disparage the Iraqis and, regardless of the orders they receive from their officers, cannot be expected to treat Muslim sites with sensitivity and deference.
#msg-3829239
http://www.counterpunch.org/leupp08162004.html

-Am