Sunni/Shi'a - A House Divided

A new internet posting believed to have been authored by a senior Al-Qaeda figure is once again exposing the deep division between Sunni and Shi'a Islam. The post, which claims to be "a summary of an address by Sheikh Abu Abdul Rahman," argues against what it sees as attempts by Shi'a Muslims to seize power in the Middle East. The author describes both Israel and Shi'a Hezbollah as Kafir (infidels) and "enemies of Allah." The writer then goes on to bemoan how the recent Israel/Hezbollah conflict has drawn attention away from Sunni battlefields. He furthermore lambasts the "corrupted regimes of Syria and Iran" and classifies them among the "infidel entities" trying to supplant proper Sunni authority. One must wonder, therefore, how much weight does this theological controversy carry with the average Muslim, and secondly, does this gap present an assailable flank for the West in its dealings with extremist organizations?