Sunni and Shiite

When Mohammed died, the religion he founded split into two branches: the Sunni and the Shiite branches. The division runs deep. Rit Nosotro at Hyperhistory.net explains:

"In Iraq, the Shiite population is about fifty-five percent, the Sunni population forty percent, and non-Muslims make up five percent... In Iran, almost any Muslim (actually ninety-three percent) is a Shiite. Despite being the minority, Sunnis dominated Iraqi politics while Hussein was in power which is what partly led to the decade long war between the two countries begining in the eighties. Millions were killed on both sides. Although the war has ended, Sunnis and Shiites are still fighting for power and pride today."

In Iraq, the Americans are not the only target of terrorists. The population is deeply divided along religious lines, and decades of animosity between Shiite and Sunni still work murder and destruction among the people.