I suspect Mr Bin Laden is watching this very carefully. A Sunni-Shiite
alliance would be interesting news for him, which he would probably
encourgae in the long run. At first he may continue paying lip service
to the "Shiites are infidels" position, but I have always suspected
that he would try to exploit a Shiite-Sunni reapproachment in such a
way so could take credit for it and use it to his advantage. He could
make himself appear as the man who "reunified Islam". I think his
ultimate fantasy would be to restore Baghdad as the seat of a unified
Muslim Caliphate as it once was in the middle ages.

I do not think he will personally succeed. I think he will most likely
be killed this spring.

I also suspect that he will try to reform Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's views
and actions, and he will probably arrange for his death if he does not
reform.

But this development in Iraq will give birth to a new phase of Pan
Islamism, wherby secretarian differences are marginalized and
reconcilled.

This is getting uglier and uglier by the day.


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