News and Analysis (3/28/07)

Sunni neighborhood is rampaged by rogue Shi’a cops and militias in revenge to Sunni militants’ devastating bomb attack in a Shi’a neighborhood two days earlier: 

• Shiite Cops Reportedly Rampage Vs. Sunnis (Associated Press) 

Upset with their bloodthirsty recklessness, many local Sunni militants are cutting ties with Al-Qaeda and in some cases fighting them: 

• Widening Schism in Iraq Between Sunni Insurgents, Al Qaeda (Christian Science Monitor) 

Major powers US, Russia and China compete for influence over Central Asian states and their resources, but face issues of state failure and Islamist activism: 

• Big Powers Jockey for Oil in Central Asia (Christian Science Monitor) 

Perhaps alternative solutions would be either to let no one pray, like at the Hagia Sophia, or let both religions pray like at Abraham’s Tomb in Khalil, West Bank: 

• Catholic-Muslim Turf War Still Resonates at Cordoba Cathedral (Los Angeles Times) 

The complexities of being Muslim and serving in the military: 

• One Muslim’s Decision to Join the US Army (Christian Science Monitor) 

In spite of recent escalation of tensions and sanctions on Iran… 

• Britain Steps Up Pressure on Iran, Freezing Business Ties (New York Times) 

…some hawks are beginning to dismiss the likelihood of a military confrontation: 

• US Hawks See Strikes on Iran as Less Likely Now (Christian Science Monitor)

Alejandro

Alejandro Beutel is program assistant for the Minaret of Freedom Institute with expertise in religious freedom, democratization and security issues.