HELPING OUT PALIN #3

This is the third in a twenty part series. Click here for an explanation.

#3 What’s the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite?

There are a few minor theological points, but my sense is that the divide is more like the Catholic/Orthodox Christianity divide — a minor theological dispute is the excuse given for a larger ethnic/cultural divide.

Realistically, in most countries Sunni just means Muslim. Something like 70% of the world's Muslims are Sunni.

The Shia, largest of the smaller denominations, just happen to be the ethnic majority in two countries: Iran and Iraq.

This has led to a schizophrenic foreign policy towards the region: we support the Sunni minority (led by Saddam Hussein) in Iraq to counter the Shia in Iran, we support the Shia in Iraq to counter Saddam, and now both the U.S. and Iran support the same Shia government in Iraq in order to oppose both nationalist Sunni and nationalist Shia.

Oh, and Al Qaeda is a radical Sunni sect, just to throw that into the mix. And the regular Sunni hate them and they hate the regular Sunni.

The only lesson that I'd take from all this is that it's past time to seriously engage Iran. We'll be better off if moderate Shia run Iraq. Iran will be better off if moderate Shia run Iraq. Our interests coincide. If we'd let go of our fevered dreams of endless war, we could cut easily cut a deal that would benefit both the U.S. and the entire middle east.