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Originally Posted by jorgelito
I did not know of the current govt. in Iraq to be comprised of Shias from Iran. This is new info for me (ah, the perils of studying history vs. current events). However, how this translates to how much or little influence Iran can impart over Iraq remains to be seen. Based on my cursory reading, IMO, probably not a whole lot.
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Hi jorgelito, actually they are Shia from Iraq who were elected into power, but they lived in Najaf with many of the Shiites who left Iran when Khomeini was exiled from 1965 - '78, and the Iranian Shiiites actually fought against the "Persians" during the war. Khomeini went back and overthrough the Shah in '79 and instituted Islamic law.
The government has leadership roles filled from the Sunni and the Kurds, but without any votes to back them up it is mostly for appearances. Even with the majority of the population, the Shiites have had no authority for the last 100 years, and have been considered "lower class". Believe that they are ready to take over and aligning with the Ayatolla locks in Shiite rule in that part of the country for a long time.... When drafting their Constitution Al Sadr made sure that the politicians based it all on Islamic law... Iran denies it but there are many reports that they have been funding Sadr's organization and rise to power in Iraq over the last year with upwards of $80 million.