Coming to terms with Sistani by Sami Moubayed

The Americans must take Sistani very seriously. His cooperation in Iraq is what prevents them from striking at the Shi'ite regime in Iran, despite its nuclear program, or the Shi'ite militia of Hezbollah in Lebanon, despite its continued war with Israel. Sistani would hear nothing of both scenarios. If the Americans foolishly decide to side step him, he could unleash hell in the Fertile Crescent. He is the best ayatollah in Iraq and they have to accept that his vision of democracy for post-Saddam Iraq is very different from what they had in mind.