Sunni leaders don't seem very rational

[e1618978]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/02/02/iraq.main/index.html

They boycotted the election, which was their option, and now they are complaining about not getting to vote.

I just can't understand what they are thinking - they seem like a bunch of bozos.

They don't want to vote under occupation, but if the US pulls out there will be so much chaos that they can't vote anyway. They boycott the vote, and then complain that it was boycotted.

It seems like they want a civil war, in the hope that the Sunni's can re-gain 100% dictator control in the aftermath - not a very smart idea, imho, when they are outnumbered 4 to 1 in the country.

[segovius]

Originally posted by e1618978
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/02/02/iraq.main/index.html

They boycotted the election, which was their option, and now they are complaining about not getting to vote.

I just can't understand what they are thinking - they seem like a bunch of bozos.

They don't want to vote under occupation, but if the US pulls out there will be so much chaos that they can't vote anyway. They boycott the vote, and then complain that it was boycotted.

It seems like they want a civil war, in the hope that the Sunni's can re-gain 100% dictator control in the aftermath - not a very smart idea, imho, when they are outnumbered 4 to 1 in the country.

Whenever I am confronted with irrationality of this nature, when things just don't make any sense and hover on the brink of laughable insanity - I just stop absorbing news from 'mainstream' media sources.

Try it - I can guarantee it works.

[Common Man]

Its interesting. One side avoids the "mainstream media" becasue it is "in Bush's pocket". The other side avoids the same media because it is "anti American" and "on the side of the terrorists". Both sides are talking about the same media outlets!

[e1618978]

Originally posted by segovius
Whenever I am confronted with irrationality of this nature, when things just don't make any sense and hover on the brink of laughable insanity - I just stop absorbing news from 'mainstream' media sources.

Try it - I can guarantee it works.

So what is the real explanation? I can't think of anything that would make the Sunni actions make sense.

On the other hand, I could say the same about a suicide bomber. But this isn't a suicide bomber, this is 10 million people throwing themselves on their swords. The only parellel I can think of is Masada.

[segovius]

Originally posted by e1618978
So what is the real explanation? I can't think of anything that would make the Sunni actions make sense.

On the other hand, I could say the same about a suicide bomber. But this isn't a suicide bomber, this is 10 million people throwing themselves on their swords. The only parellel I can think of is Masada.

Well, I haven't read your link but as I understand it the Sunni clerics believed prior to the election that they could not win and that (rightly or wrongly) the Shi'i had reached some sort of deal to power share or gain outright power.

They thus feared (with some justification) retribution and persecution. Their plan was to undermine the legitimacy of an election which (in their view) they could not win and would suffer by losing.

Therefore, the clerics instructed people not to vote for the express purpose of using this as a lever after the elections to call their legitimacy into question.

This is also why they use the accusation of the lost ballots and the alleged prevention of Sunni voters form voting.

This is just my reading of it. I could be wrong.