Sunni VS Shi'ite: A Developing Under the Radar Problem

Here is a must read message from Regime Change Iran blog. There has always been animosity between Sunni (majority Mohammedans) and Shi'ite (minority Mohammedans), since their split over the leadership in Mohammedanism.

Shi’a Islam is the only major schism in Islam. It is not a recent schism,
however, for it dates back right to the foundations of Islam. Shi'ite historians believe that Shi'ism began shortly after the death of Muhammad, when the Caliphate, or secular leadership of Islam, was handed to Muhammad's father-in-law, Abu Bakr, rather than 'Ali, Muhammad's chosen successor. The Muslims who supported 'Ali called themselves the "Partisans of 'Ali" (Shi’a 'Ali); these supporters, who were only four in number, are the root of Shi’a Islam. Western and Sunni historians date Shi'ism as a religion to the death of Husayn, the grandson of Muhammad, in the battle of Karbala. The celebration of this martyrdom by the Shi’a 'Ali represents for these historians the first clear instance of separate religious practice. (JewishVirtualLibrary)

As you can read there is no love lost here between these Mohammedan sects. In recent times there seems to have been a mini-unification due to mutual Sunni/Shi'ite hatred of America and Israel. However, Regime Change Iran is indicating that the Arab ruling elites (at least behind closed doors) are becoming concerned with Shi'ite Iran as it begins to arm itself with nuclear WMD. Apparently it is a scenario in Dar al-Islam that is unacceptable to Sunnis. The extremists of Wahhabism and the Muslim Brotherhood do not want to be dominated by the extremists of 12th Imam Shi'ites of Iran.

The central belief of Twelve-Imam Shiites is the occultation (or disappearance from view) of the 12th Imam. The 12th Imam is considered to be the only legitimate and just ruler, and therefore no political action taken in his absence can be fruitful.
....
The religious authority of the Shiite clerics is derived from their role as deputies of the absent 12th Imam; they are as such the recipients of the khums religious tax, a source of substantial economic autonomy. Shiite clerics are often refered to as mullahs and mujtahids. The most prominent clerical position is that of marja al-taqlid. The Shiite clergy does not, however, have a formal hierarchy. The honorific ayat Allah or ayatollah [Arab.,=sign of God] is a modern title that does not correspond to any established religious function. (InfoPlease.com)

The Twelfth Imam Shi'ites of Iran are psycho-Islamofascists that will bring global cataclysm to entice the return of their hidden Imam - The Mahdi.

If Arabic Sunnis are concerned about psychotic Iran, then Americans need to be concerned.