Friday, October 23, 2015
Martin O'Malley & J.Q. Adams
Before the Oct. 13 Democratic presidential debate fades into memory or becomes, in campaign timeline terms, ancient history, I just want to mention that I was impressed, while watching the debate in a restaurant, to hear Martin O'Malley quote the John Quincy Adams line about America not going abroad in search of monsters to destroy. On the one hand it's a quite well-known line in some circles, but on the other hand how likely is it that one would hear it in a presidential debate? So props to O'Malley. I'm still for Sanders and I think Clinton will probably wind up being the nominee, but anyway...
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Unrelated, but can't help sharing a remark by Paul Wolfowitz: "The Iraqis are mostly secularized. In majority Shi'a, they do not give the impression of being aware that they have holy cities on their territory". I thought it was Douglas Feith who was noted as the "dumbest f___ing guy on the planet", but his boss would also be in contention.
Even if no Democrat could quote Adams, they would have to really try to plumb this depth of moronic complacency.
Reading a book on the relations between the various Shia communities and Iran.
That remark by Wolfowitz is ... I was going to say amazing, but it's of a piece with the whole attitude of the Bush crowd in the run-up to the Iraq invasion.
If you'd like to do a guest post on that book you refer to, or on something else, let me know. I'm not planning to do much posting of my own here in November as I need to catch up on some other things.
Out of curiosity , what's the book peter t (Ronan)
Sabrina Mervin (ed) The Shi'a Worlds and Iran. Collection of papers on the influence of the 79 revolution played out in other Shi'a communities (covers Turkey, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Saudi, Kuwait, Afghanistan and others). 2010, so does not deal with ISIS (except for the very beginning).
What stands out is the intensity of interaction between theological and political issues, mediated through the major religious centres and the institutions of the marjayat (the senior clerics, their charitable foundations and their judicial role).
Thanks, Peter T. Id also be interested to read any take you have on it , if you take LFC up on the idea of a post.
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