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American Morning
Leadership Vacuum
Aired April 11, 2003 - 09:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Yitzhak Naskah is the author of "The Shiis of Iraq," and he joins us now.
Good of you to drop by here.
YITZHAK NASKAH, AUTHOR, "THE SHIIS OF IRAQ": Good morning.
ZAHN: What is the significance of that assassination?
NASKAH: Well, we still don't know exactly what was behind the assassination, but I think it's safe to say that one of the major reasons has to do with the powerful struggle within religious circles inside Najaf.
ZAHN: And what is that struggle? Was there a struggle that existed while Saddam was in power or simply there, because he's gone now, and you've got this jockeying for position?
NASKAH: It's a struggle that has been there all along in Shii Islam, over who would be the senior cleric, who would influence and dominate affairs inside the city. It existed all along. It was sidelined during the Baath rule, but now when we are witnessing the power vacuum inside Iraq, things are erupting, and I think it's very important at this point to make sure that there will not be any outside attempt to interfere in Shiite religious circles, no attempt to try to influence the position of one cleric versus another. It will just make fire.
ZAHN: But wouldn't it appear to you without knowing who killed cleric Al-Khoe, he had shown support for coalition troops. Is it your belief that that is what might have done him in?
NASKAH: This is a possibility. But at this point, it's too premature to speculate on the real factor behind killing. We will have to be patient and see how things would unfold in the coming days.
ZAHN: So without any kind of external involvement, what happens?
NASKAH: Well, if things are left to take their own natural shape, there would be a healthy competition between Najaf and Karbala, the two cities that are in Iraq who would vie with the city of Qaim (ph) in Iran for leadership of the Shii world, but any attempt to influence that competition between Iraqi Shiism and Iranian Shiism by outside forces will backfire.
ZAHN: You talk about a healthy competition. Do you envision more clerics losing their lives in this fight? NASKAH: This is possible. This was always part of the competition for leadership within Shii Islam. Although I have to say that in the past, if the past is any example, we didn't witness massive killings of clerics. Every now and again, it is possible. The less interference there is from the outside, the better.
ZAHN: Do you think democracy will ever take root in Iraq?
NASKAH: The issue of democracy is not for us to try to impose on Iraq. The question whether in the long-term Iraq would be able to move from a state government by a confessional system into one and enjoying full democracy will be determined by the actions and wishes Iraqis themselves.
ZAHN: And just a quick answer in whether you think that is possible.
NASKAH: Some form of a decent government is possible in Iraq. A form of a functioning government in Iraq is possible. In my book, there are successes other than a full-fledged democracy.
ZAHN: Those are well worth reviewing, and the Shiis of Iraq. Yitzhak Naskah, thank you very much for dropping by.
NASKAH: Pleased to meet you.
ZAHN: Pleased to meet you, as well.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 11, 2003 - 09:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Yitzhak Naskah is the author of "The Shiis of Iraq," and he joins us now.
Good of you to drop by here.
YITZHAK NASKAH, AUTHOR, "THE SHIIS OF IRAQ": Good morning.
ZAHN: What is the significance of that assassination?
NASKAH: Well, we still don't know exactly what was behind the assassination, but I think it's safe to say that one of the major reasons has to do with the powerful struggle within religious circles inside Najaf.
ZAHN: And what is that struggle? Was there a struggle that existed while Saddam was in power or simply there, because he's gone now, and you've got this jockeying for position?
NASKAH: It's a struggle that has been there all along in Shii Islam, over who would be the senior cleric, who would influence and dominate affairs inside the city. It existed all along. It was sidelined during the Baath rule, but now when we are witnessing the power vacuum inside Iraq, things are erupting, and I think it's very important at this point to make sure that there will not be any outside attempt to interfere in Shiite religious circles, no attempt to try to influence the position of one cleric versus another. It will just make fire.
ZAHN: But wouldn't it appear to you without knowing who killed cleric Al-Khoe, he had shown support for coalition troops. Is it your belief that that is what might have done him in?
NASKAH: This is a possibility. But at this point, it's too premature to speculate on the real factor behind killing. We will have to be patient and see how things would unfold in the coming days.
ZAHN: So without any kind of external involvement, what happens?
NASKAH: Well, if things are left to take their own natural shape, there would be a healthy competition between Najaf and Karbala, the two cities that are in Iraq who would vie with the city of Qaim (ph) in Iran for leadership of the Shii world, but any attempt to influence that competition between Iraqi Shiism and Iranian Shiism by outside forces will backfire.
ZAHN: You talk about a healthy competition. Do you envision more clerics losing their lives in this fight? NASKAH: This is possible. This was always part of the competition for leadership within Shii Islam. Although I have to say that in the past, if the past is any example, we didn't witness massive killings of clerics. Every now and again, it is possible. The less interference there is from the outside, the better.
ZAHN: Do you think democracy will ever take root in Iraq?
NASKAH: The issue of democracy is not for us to try to impose on Iraq. The question whether in the long-term Iraq would be able to move from a state government by a confessional system into one and enjoying full democracy will be determined by the actions and wishes Iraqis themselves.
ZAHN: And just a quick answer in whether you think that is possible.
NASKAH: Some form of a decent government is possible in Iraq. A form of a functioning government in Iraq is possible. In my book, there are successes other than a full-fledged democracy.
ZAHN: Those are well worth reviewing, and the Shiis of Iraq. Yitzhak Naskah, thank you very much for dropping by.
NASKAH: Pleased to meet you.
ZAHN: Pleased to meet you, as well.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
