What can be done to help with the SECTARIAN Struggle between the Sunni and the Shia?

SPC Andrew Griffin — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 13:11:29 -0500

What can we do has a People to help with the Islamic infighting and let our Muslim brothers and sisters now that we LOVE them Dearly?

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jan 10 at 2016 1:50 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 13:50:17 -0500

Arm them. Isolate them. Let them settle it.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Jan 10 at 2016 1:56 PM

SSG Gerhard S. — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 13:56:37 -0500

I was speaking with a Muslim friend of mine from Jordan a few years back... I, innocently asked if he could explain the differences between Sunni and Shiite. He got one sentence of explanation out about the split occurring soon following Mohammad's death.... But that's as far as he got before getting very passionate and telling me that ONLY Sunni are true Muslims. I had hoped a informative conversation would result, but when I tried to redirect to the topic, it was useless. There is obviously a passionate divide.
Having grown up around a more liberal form of Christianity, I had expected him to be able to articulate the differences, as others had been able to do when asked, for instance, what is the difference between say, Baptists, and Catholics. It's been my experience that neither would excitedly claim theirs is the Only true version of Christianity. So, I sometimes wonder if the Sunni-Shiite chasm can be bridged.
Perhaps someone with greater insight in this can shed light on the issue.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Jan 10 at 2016 1:57 PM

SSG Gerhard S. — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 13:57:10 -0500

Clearly, my experience is anecdotal, but it made an impression...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2016 8:09 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 20:09:05 -0500

It is like watching tennis.
Back and forth.
Sometimes one makes a point, sometimes the other does.
Usually the one holding serve (initiative) wins.
Eventually they get tired and chill for a bit, then come back for another set.

We can watch. Or cheer for one side to win. Or rig the game to one side's advantage.
But the game will continue no matter what we do.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 11 at 2016 10:15 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 10:15:18 -0500

We can stop invading Muslim countries. Once we destroy the societal stability, hundreds of years of hate will resurface.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Jan 11 at 2016 10:26 AM

SFC Pete Kain — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 10:26:37 -0500

Stop killing their suicide bombers, let them complete their missions, arm the hell out of them, convert to Islam, etc.(sarcasm)
Love them to death, preferably with superior fire power and a will to win. Said that and mean that! If we take fire from a mosque, flatten it. If we identify a terrorist arrest his family, no more mister nice guy. Their culture sees our compassion as a weakness and something to be exploited.

BTW, I thought Obama was supposed have the answer and already have this fixed. How's that working?

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jan 11 at 2016 10:42 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 10:42:03 -0500

Building a fence around the AO, no one in, no one out. Let 'em duke it out and we can live in peace.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jan 11 at 2016 11:47 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 11:47:36 -0500

We could teach them the lyrics to "Kumbaya" if "We Are The World" fails to move them.
;-)

On a more serious note, maybe nothing can be "done"; perhaps it just takes time for such differences to become less pronounced and therefore less points of contention.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Jan 11 at 2016 2:20 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 14:20:57 -0500

This will never be solved. This is like a brother and a brother fighting. They will always have a brotherly hate/rivalry until someone else gets in their business then they unite to fight and protect the family name. When done and things calm down they go back to in fighting. In my opinion, we will never be able to convince them otherwise unfortunately. You can show a pit bull love all day but when you go near their food bowl, they are going to protect it. Just an example so all of you pit bull lovers out there don't start with the I hate pit bulls comments. There will always be a struggle as long as we are this side of heaven.