Ahmadinejad in Cairo chastised by Sunni cleric, dodges shoe attack

[co_gator89]

There is a lot of resentment for Iran among the majority Sunni Arab world over their support of Assad. Looks like he got the same treatment from a Syrian protester that Bush got in Iraq several years back.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Cairo, which started with an affectionate welcome on Tuesday from Egypt’s new Islamist president, turned less pleasant as the day wore on. First, Mr. Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, was lectured by a senior Sunni Muslim cleric and then was nearly struck with a shoe by a man furious at Iran’s support for the Syrian government.

A correspondent for Turkey’s Anadolu Agency captured the unsuccessful shoe attack on video and reported that the bearded man who tried to strike Mr. Ahmadinejad was a Syrian who shouted, “You killed our brothers!”

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/201...shoe-in-cairo/

[Row6]

The "arab"/Persian/Islamic world is not a monolith, and while cynically trying to exploit the divisions is not a good long term strategy for them or us, it is something to be aware of in US policy decisions. We seem to have forgotten that when pursuing the Iraq adventure.

[gatorev12]

Originally Posted by Row6

The "arab"/Persian/Islamic world is not a monolith, and while cynically trying to exploit the divisions is not a good long term strategy for them or us, it is something to be aware of in US policy decisions. We seem to have forgotten that when pursuing the Iraq adventure.

...is a united Shi'a/Sunni populace in our best interest either?

That seems to be pretty close to what two of our biggest enemies (Al Qaeda and Iran) have been pining for over the last decade--and there's a reason for that: it wouldn't really suit our interests.

Not saying you're wrong in your assessment that short-term interests can cloud long-term benefits, but also consider the long-term as well...

[oragator1]

That part of the world is beyond disfunction and Egypt's government isn't long for this world either.

[Row6]

Originally Posted by gatorev12

...is a united Shi'a/Sunni populace in our best interest either?

That seems to be pretty close to what two of our biggest enemies (Al Qaeda and Iran) have been pining for over the last decade--and there's a reason for that: it wouldn't really suit our interests.

Not saying you're wrong in your assessment that short-term interests can cloud long-term benefits, but also consider the long-term as well...

I intended my comment about long term to mean that ultimately we shouldn't want to enshrine strife and instability as a permanent condition anywhere in the world, though in the foreseeable future it can help us in the middle east. Hopefully, through economic and educational advancement the region can achieve a semblance of modernity and more peaceful integration, as pollyanish as that wish might seem now.

[gatorev12]

Originally Posted by Row6

I intended my comment about long term to mean that ultimately we shouldn't want to enshrine strife and instability as a permanent condition anywhere in the world, though in the foreseeable future it can help us in the middle east. Hopefully, through economic and educational advancement the region can achieve a semblance of modernity and more peaceful integration, as pollyanish as that wish might seem now.

I share your well-wishes...and your assessment as to how implausible they seem for the foreseeable future.