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The Shia Sunni divide goes all the way back to the time of Prophet Mohammad death, the issue at that time was who do we pick as the next leader or the Caliph. The muslim had pick an older gentleman whom they thought would be best suited to lead the muslim. There were some who believed that the Prophets immediate family were the only suitable choice. This group known as the Shia's meaning (to break away or split from)are today a 15 percent minority. The Shia's believe in the 12 Imams, or Caliphs of their own, which of the 12th Imam they believe went into hiding, returning and a time of World War like situation to rescue the believers from the infedels and make way for the return of Prophet Jesus. This is a widely held belief amongs the Shia majority. There are those in the Shia sect that view Sunni's as an equal enemy to the West.The Sunni's have been ruling the Middle East region since the early days of Islam. The best way someone can describe this divide is to give you the example of Catholic and Prodestant split. Neither one is willing to give up any doctrines, so the outcome will be a permanent dispute, leading to neverending differences. There were many wars between the Shia and Sunni's, many of the Shia Imam's were killed by the Sunni's in Bagdad area, (Najaf, Karbala etc.) The real issues in the Middle East are between the Shia's and Sunni's and I believe they will shape the Middle East Region in the year to come. Iran is 98 percent Shia, the Mullah's in the Iranian regime subcribe to an arm of Shia sect that believes in the returning of their Imam during a World War like senario, and I believe there are those in their group, that are trying to hasten that process. Iranian regime is looking for a regional hegemony because it is threaten by the Sunni's having Nuclear Weapons(Pakistan). Iran has been working very hard to create the Hezbollah like proxies to spread its ideologies. It might be using the Palestinian issue as a cover to win the heart and mind. I feel Iranian regime has one goal, complete control of the Middle East and its resources. This has been their main objective since the broke away from the Sunni's 1400 year ago.

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