Juan Cole: May 22, 2005

Muqtada Tries to Mediate Between Sunnis and Badr

Three Sunni Arab organizations arranged a meeting of 1,000 Sunni notables on Saturday, in an attempt to form an umbrella group with greater political clout.

The LA Time reports that,

' Meanwhile, a tribal leader from Madaen told the gathering that if security conditions didn't improve in his region, "We will raise arms and nothing will stand in the way of jihad." '

The Washington Post says that the convention passed a resolution that condemned terror but did recognize the legitimacy of attacking "the occupier." Adnan Dulaim, head of the Sunni Pious Endowments Board, argued for Sunni participation in the civil political process. He is also the activist behind the 3-day mosque strike that began after Friday prayers.