Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on the move?

Michael Ledeen evaluates some interesting observations, following Steve Schippert’s analysis of Al Arabiya’s report on regime "alternative" — about X Factor Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

…senior ayatollahs have been meeting secretly in Qom to discuss significant changes in the structure of the Iranian state. In addition to the Iranian clerics, there was a foreigner: Jawad al-Shahristani, the supreme representative of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the foremost Shiite leader in Iraq.

…it means that senior religious leaders in Iran are talking to the representative of an Iraqi Imam who believes, as most Shi’ites did before Khomeini’s heresy, that the proper role of religious leaders is to guide their people from the mosque, not from the political capital.

1. Michael Ledeen’s evaluation
2. Steve Schippert’s analysis
3. Al Arabiya’s regime "alternative" report

I asked a question about this last Wednesday: In the movement for Iran freedom, what will be the input from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani?.

I am glad Al Arabiya reads my blog. They went out and got an answer for me!