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D. Sunnis account for 75 percent to 90 percent of all Muslims. The second largest sect is Shia, which constitutes 10 percent to 20 percent of Islam. However, the majority of Iraqis are Shia and they now dominate the government.
B. Syria is fighting a bloody civil war that is threatening to involve the United States. In Syria, the majority of the people are Sunni while the ruling elite are members of the Alawite sect of Shia Islam. Some radical Sunni Islamists leading the Syrian rebels have merged with al-Qaeda in Iraq, drawing on former fighters against the U.S. occupation of Iraq who also are foes of the Iraqi regime.
A. Iran has around 70 million Shia Muslims, while Iraq has the second largest population with about 22 million Shias. The alliance between the rulers of Iran and Syria was built on their fierce opposition to U.S. influence in the region. Ironically, Iran's influence in Iraq has grown since invading U.S. forces ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and the Shias he had long suppressed gained political power.
C. The Saudi royal family has supported the Salafi Movement since the 18th century and financed its spread. The United States faces a dilemma in the Syrian conflict with anti-American Islamist radicals controlling a rebellion against an anti-American regime. Recent reports that the Syrian government used chemical weapons have increased calls for U.S. Intervention.