Iraqâs main Shia opposition party announced on Monday it would boycott a US-sponsored meeting of Iraqi organisations in Iraq to map out the post-war political map of the country. The Iranian-based Supreme Assembly for the Islamic Revolution (SAIRI), which draws its support from Iran Iraqâs Shia majority, said Tuesdayâs meeting to be held in the southern Iraq city Nasiriya would not benefit the Iraqi people. âWe are not going to attend the Nassiriya meeting because it is not to the benefit of the Iraqi nation,â said Abdelaziz Hakim, a SAIRI leader based in Tehran told a news conference.
"Nope. Nope. No benefit. Nope."
âWhat is most important in our view is independence,â he said. âWe refuse to put ourselves under the thumb of the Americans or any other country.â
"Why did we fight so heroically to throw Sammy out of office if to knuckle under to, ummm... Wait a minute. That wasn't us. All we did was hold a parade. They're the ones who kicked Sammy out. But now we want to be in charge, dammit! 'Cuz we're Shiites, an' they're not!"" |