Shiite Ayatollah Ignores Letter From Bush

[NNN0LHI]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAQ?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=INTERNATIONAL

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A letter from President Bush to Iraq's supreme Shiite spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, was hand-delivered earlier this week but sits unread and untranslated in the top religious figure's office, a key al-Sistani aide told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The aide - who has never allowed use of his name in news reports, citing al-Sistani's refusal to make any public statements himself - said the ayatollah had laid the letter aside and did not ask for a translation because of increasing "unhappiness" over what senior Shiite leaders see as American meddling in Iraqi attempts to form their first, permanent post-invasion government.

The aide said the person who delivered the Bush letter - he would not identify the messenger by name or nationality - said it carried Bush's thanks to al-Sistani for calling for calm among his followers in preventing the outbreak of civil war after a Shiite shrine was bombed late last month.

The messenger also was said to have explained that the letter reinforced the American position that Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari should not be given a second term. Al-Sistani has not publicly taken sides in the dispute, but rather has called for Shiite unity.

[TomInTib]

1. I love this story. Ignoring a message or invitation is the sign of

ultimate contempt and disdain in Iraqi society.

[megatherium]

2. This guy has as little class as Bush.

Not opening a letter from Bush, just a juvenile insult contest. So now what is Bush going to do? Have 16 more Shi'ite leaders killed? So childish. :sarcasm:

[NNN0LHI]

3. Yea, maybe Boosh wanted to invite the Ayatollah to the ranch?

Now the Ayatollah will miss out on all of the festivities.

Don

[Ecumenist]

4. He probably prefers letters that aren't written in green crayon...

:eyes: