Iraqi Shia Reject Iran

Many handwringers over Iraq have fretted that Maiki is a puppet of Iran and that the majority Shia would capitulate to Iranian influence. Well I have got news for them, that ain't quite what is going on. Iraq is largely Arab even among Sunni and Shia sects, Iran is Persian and has a different form of Shia than the Arabs and is different culturally as well. Plus they fought a very bloody war not that many years ago and Saddam had promoted nationalism and Iraq's arabness that laid a crude patriotic foundation.
From Reuters via Gateway Pundit who has lots more.

More than 300,000 Iraqis including 600 Shi'ite tribal leaders have signed a petition accusing Iran of sowing "disorder" in southern Iraq, a group of sheikhs involved in the campaign said.

The sheikhs showed Reuters two thick bundles of notes which contained original signatures. The sheikhs said more than 300,000 people had signed the pages.

Such a public and organized display of animosity toward neighboring Shi'ite Iran is rare in Iraq. Iranian influence has grown steadily, especially in the predominantly Shi'ite south, since the U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

"More than 300,000 people from the southern provinces condemned the interference of the Iranian regime in Iraq and especially in spreading security disorder in the provinces," the sheikhs said in a statement.