HW 31:Al Hakim

In Response to Riverbend:
Riverbend refers to Al Hakim a few times in her blogs. He was an Iraqi leader who was assasinated during the war. Al Hakim was the Iraqi leader of SIIC, the largest political party in the council of Iraqi representatives. Hakim served as president in December 2003. Hakim met with President Bush he made a commitment to help end violence. Hakim is involved in the Shia party. (Wikipedia pg.1). Riverbend makes several references to him during the assigned reading. When Hakim was assassinated she was worried about the after effects. "Al Hakim's assassination is very significant, youre right. It will be used as an excuse for vendettas, faction fighting, and more violence, between Shi'a and Shi'a and Sunnis and Shi'a. Already his followers are swearing to avenge his death and I shudder to think of the next group of victims. It is extremley frightening to think of what the consequences of this will be"(Riverbend pg.43) Hakim was a very important figurehead in Iraq especially during the war. However, Im very confused when it comes to this man. Riverbend states that he is assinated, and then wikipedia states in one paragraph that he was assinated, in the end they said he wasnt. Im mainly just going from Riverbend's references. Apparently he was important during this time period and his murder was a threat accordning to Riverbend.

Sources Cited:
Riverbend, Baghdad Burning, Girl Blog from Iraq. Published by the Feminist Press, New York, New York 2005.
Wikipedia "Abdul Aziz al-Hakim" page 1