Emailer David reminded me that David Ignatius on "The Chris Matthews Show," claimed Ali al-Sistani was worried Iraq was spinning out of control back on 7/23/06.
David:.. the most important and powerful personality in Iraq is signaling the Bush administration this week that he is worried that the situation in Iraq is spinning out of control. He is the crucial person. If he gives up on this effort-this effort is over...
I guess his information was correct since Ali al-Sistani has now "abandoned attempts to restrain his followers."
The most influential moderate Shia leader in Iraq has abandoned attempts to restrain his followers, admitting that there is nothing he can do to prevent the country sliding towards civil war.
This news does not bode well as Juan Cole reports:"Sistani's aide, Sheikh Hassan Mohammed Mahdi al-Jawadi, 56, was gunned down in front of his office by gunmen in a car on Sunday."