Unexpected Iraq bloodbath raises concerns

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Accounts of the bloody battle near Najaf have produced more questions than answers, raising doubts about Iraqi security forces' performance and concern over tensions within the majority Shiite community.

Among the questions: How did a messianic Shiite cult, the "Soldiers of Heaven," accumulate so many weapons and — if Iraqi accounts are accurate — display such military skills? Iraqi forces prevailed only after U.S. and British jets blasted the militants with rockets, machine gunfire and 500-pound bombs. Both U.S. and Iraqi reinforcements had to be sent to the fight.

It's also unclear how a shadowy cult that few Iraqis had ever heard of managed to assemble such a force seemingly without attracting the attention of the authorities earlier. Iraqi officials say the cult planned to slaughter pilgrims and leading clerics at Shiite religious ceremonies Tuesday — only two days after police and soldiers moved to arrest them.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16890740/

Yesterday, I heard the "Soldiers of Heaven" were of unknown religious affiliation. Now today, they're being called a Shiite cult. Why would Shiites attack other Shiites? And yeah, it's very, very odd an organization such as this was able to become so well-organized and go completely unnoticed.

After reading the article, it seems that these guys were pretty serious about their religious beliefs, and prophetical miracle-spasms. They wanted to bring back the "hidden Imam" just the same way the fundies here can't wait for the return of Jesus. It may be that they primarily wanted to take hostages and create a long bloody media circus. Thankfully, it didn't happen the way they planned.

I'm reminded about one of my favorite quotes:

"The muslims, christians and the jews; they all have it wrong. There are only two kinds of people in the world. Those who have no religion and a brain, and those with religion, and no brain."

-11th century Syrian philosopher