An Iraqi man and wife with child walk past a sign professing support for "Hawza," or Shiite religious leadership, 08 September 2003 in the holy city of Najaf, some 180 kms south of Baghdad. US President George W. Bush, in his first major speech on Iraq since May, urged the United Nations 07 September 2003 to overcome "past differences" over the US-led invasion of Iraq, appealing even to opponents of the war for troops and money. AFP PHOTO/Karim SAHIB (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images

Iraqi Shiite clerics maintain humility, influence

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An Iraqi man and wife with child walk past a sign professing support for "Hawza," or Shiite religious leadership, 08 September 2003 in the holy city of Najaf, some 180 kms south of Baghdad. US President George W. Bush, in his first major speech on Iraq since May, urged the United Nations 07 September 2003 to overcome "past differences" over the US-led invasion of Iraq, appealing even to opponents of the war for troops and money. AFP PHOTO/Karim SAHIB (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images

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