http://www.nowarblog.org/archives/001724.html

Here t'is guys, and I got the Sunni/Shi'a thing reversed.  Apparently it is the Sunnis that have been supported in the past by the British, and more recently the Americans. Very informative article.  Cleared up a lot for me in trying to understand the 2 major Muslim factions, ie Sunni vs Shi'a (Shiite).  

If you get a chance, please read The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.  It's a fiction, but based upon his growing up in Afghanistan, where the Sunni are a majority, but there are significant Shi'a population.  A large section of the Afghan people are Hazara (most of them practice Shi'a Islam), but they have suffered great persecution by the majority Sunnis in Afghanistan, and especially at the hands of the Taliban.  But...READ the BOOK!!   It is fantastic; sad in some sections, but uplifting in others.  His character developments are so superb, you will have a very clear visual image in your mind of each one, as the story unfolds.   Very engrossing, and informative. 

Zendagi Migzara  ("Life Goes On")

Gene