Why doesn't America understand the history of hatred between sunniis and shiites?

Answer 1

You just hit the nail on the head and I wish I knew those things before getting here. There are other things we need to learn as well such as tribal relationships, the order of politics, and the way business is conducted in Arab nations.

This isn't Germany after WWII. Europeans are like us and think like us.

We ain't in Kansas, anymore, Toto.

This place is a different world. One of honor and violence. Arabs are a passionate people. If they love you, you are part of the family forever. If they hate you, they will kill you and mutilate you to prove a point.

I'm going to make it my goal to teach soldiers about this stuff when I get back. Maybe we can start making some more progress in this war.

Answer 2

I realize we should try to understand what drives their hatred for one another. But even the Hatfields and McCoys forgot what they were feuding about.

So I feel as an US citizen I look at their conflict with one another and think. "Come on guys get over it already. You had way more then enough time to come to a peaceful solution."

And if it's over how one or the other interprets the Quaran. They should learn to respect each others beliefs. I really feel the time has passed where we sit back and allow people to tear each other apart over how they believe.

So we need to find a way to get them to sit down peacefully and talk over their differences to find away they can peacefully coexist.

(India also has multiple religious beliefs and I don't see them at one anothers throats, because of their different beliefs. This needs to end and we should never just sit back and say "Since we don't understand the history between the Sunniis and the Shiites, we should just allow them to constantly be at each others throats.")

Answer 3

America unfortunately doesnot understand it's own history let alone those of a civilization that is 5000 years old. The complexities of the Arab and Persian states are now encompassed in the infantile 'Islamofacist' or 'axis of evil' quotes.

Ignorance is bliss........

Answer 4

BushCo knows only too well and is taking advantage of it to advance their agenda of Dominion over the region and Plunder for their corporate contractors like Halliburton. Bush Sr. used it to advance Saddam and attack Iran, knowing only too well how much force Saddam needed to keep Iraq in line and together, for we helped train his secret intelligence police. Don't be fooled by Dubbyas seeming bumbling nature and assume these guys don't know exactly what they are doing.

Answer 5

'cuz we dont care about Islam
We judge situations by OUR standards. We have different bunches of Christians but we are mostly Christians. Since we get along with our other Christian friends, we compare that to the Muzzis. Shii vs Sunni is like Catholic and Prostestant, and here in the US, that ain't worth fighting over
also
doesn't all this killing in Iraq, Iraqis killing other Iraqia make anybody in the Mid Easr sick? Sick enough to condem it? Sick enough to send some troops over to restore some peace?

Answer 6

It is probably because many Americans do not have a history of conflict with another group within their country. They wiped out the Indians, and racial relations in the US, although strained sometimes and violent sometimes, do not have the history of sectarian violence.

Answer 7

You know whats incredibly sad and mind numbing about you're question? Bush knew absolutely nothing about the history of any of these factions before he invaded Iraq. I find that inconcievable to believe, but its the truth.

Answer 8

I thought all problems could be taken care of by talking, since all men are good and decent. Is that what you mean by not understanding History?

Answer 9

Because most American's don't even understand the hatred radical Muslims have for us.

Answer 10

Because they are not the Sunniis and Shiites.