APS Diplomat Redrawing the Islamic Map articles from December 2007

APS Diplomat Redrawing the Islamic Map archives from December 2007

Resurgence In The Shi'ite World - Part 24 - Iraq & The Ja'fari Split.
December 24, 2007... A deep division is developing within the Ja'fari Shi'ite society in the Muslim World. This reflects a serious power-struggle in the Shi'ite theocracy of Iran - the only such regime in the Ja'fari world, a regime which already has a branch in...

Return Of Refugees & Problems Facing Children.
December 24, 2007... While improved security has boosted the numbers of refugees seeking to return to their homes, managing the returns has proved difficult and dangerous, particularly for many Sunnis. Tens of thousands of returning refugees face similar...

US Military Presence To Be Reduced.(troops in Iraq)(Brief article)
December 24, 2007... US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Dec. 20 held out hope that American forces in Iraq could continue a steady decline next year if security keeps improving - leaving 100,000 in the country by end-2008. But he did not rule out a small increase...

The Sadrist Background & Lebanon Connection.
December 24, 2007... The Sadrs are one of the most prominent families in the Ja'fari world, with an old base in Najaf and branches mainly in Iran and Lebanon. In Iraq, the most illustrious figure was Grand Ayatullah Muhammad Baqer al-Sadr, who in the early 1960s...

Towards Kirkuk Compromise.
December 24, 2007... Kirkuk - often described as a sectarian time bomb with its volatile mix of Kurds, Turkomans and Arabs - is heading towards a compromise thanks to a deal on Dec. 18 postponing a planned Dec. 31 referendum over its fate until mid-2008. The Dec....

Neo-Salafi Torture Complex Found; Al-Qaeda On The Run & The Iran Factor.
December 24, 2007... US-led troops have discovered a "torture complex" in a Qaea area near Muqdadiya in central Diyala province. Intelligence provided by Iraqis led the troops to the torture centre, where at least 26 bodies were found buried in mass graves...