If he were a Shiite, he'd have a turba with him.

A group of men march through the streets cutting themselves with knives.

A Shiite Muslim stationed at Camp David. Died of unknown causes two weeks ago.

The Sunnis have four imams and the Shias have twelve their teachings all differ. Then there are other divisions, including the Druze, the Alawites, and the Wahabis.

A turba is a small stone tablet that the Shiites set their forehead on while praying.

For the first time in years,

But the whole community, all the different sects, including Shi'a and Sunni, would sit together and pray.

My last book was about the story behind the Shi'a Sunni split, and for that I'd worked closely with the earliest Islamic histories, so I knew the events to which the Koran constantly refers, its frame of reference.

Applause

The last decades have provided the regime with near ideal conditions to seize control over the Shiite clerical establishment in Iraq as well. Under Saddam Hussein, restrictions were imposed on the Shiite seminary in Najaf traditionally a counterbalance to Iran s Shiite establishment forcing the emigration of a number of clerics to the Iranian seminary in Qom.

He was the especially sadistic head of al Qaeda in Iraq who sent hundreds of suicide bombers to attack not Americans but Iraqis.

It was also strengthened by the regime s activities in the 1980 s, when it created Hezbollah as a guerilla organization in Lebanon, thereby expanding its domination over the most important Shiite areas in the region. The Iranian regime then consolidated its mastery of the Shiite network in the Middle East, and now uses this control to further its own interests.

The same impulses toward extremism are used to justify war between Sunnis and Shia, between tribes and clans.

Tom, are you a dog person or a cat person?

You're afraid to try. You're afraid you may fail.

Polarization rises.

What is wrong with the people that we have chosen?

What is it?

And it leads to reservations and other techniques.

OK, about a two dozen.

We need a government that works.

Nice try, kid.

You're incredible.

Emperor or Senate?

What is it?

You did good.

Hard.

Sunni.

You look great.

That's a clap.

You are a very brave wife.

Great.

Sanidose it!

Fine feathers make fine birds.

Silence is sweet.

CA Thank you.

I'm seven feet, 2,000 lbs., with brown hair and eyes, long legs and I'm very well ... hung.

We're all very proud of you, Ben.

Fine teachers!

What a deal, huh?

Great!

Vamp nail polish?

It's mine. Lutheran?

Beagle, he's a hell of a man.

He was sent abroad as a correspondent.