The Iranian Revolution and the Iranian-Iraq War

The Iranian Revolution and the Iranian-Iraq War did inflame sectarianism, greatly soaked it in blood. Steve Colligan: Iran's mobilization of war was sectarian, in character, in important respects. He says an Iranian war song urging soldiers to invade Iraq and recapture Karbala from its Sunni rivals is a pretty effective way for the government to play on people's fears.Colligan: The emphasis on what happened in the Battle of Karbala creates an entire mythology and rituals that fuel Iran's war effort.