So no new event had happened on the political and military...

So no new event had happened on the political and military scene since the time of Imam Hasan (as) except two things: 1: Consolidation of Umayyad power base and extension of their influence in the land. 2: Spread of corruption in the Umayyad system that reached outright licentiousness and debasement during the lifetime of Yazid and his rule.

The first issue was not considered for any military mobilization by the Imam to overthrow the system, what with the experience of Imam Hasan (as) which was still fresh in the minds of his Shi'ah. The Iraqi forces of the day were unable to resist the power of the Umayyads after the demise of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (as). What could be expected now that Umayyad rule had been consolidated and they were the unchallenged power with a formidable army?

As for the second issue, even if it was beneficial to arouse a small conscious opposition group among the Shi'ah, there was certainly no use in instigating the majority who had got used to, submitted to and even supported corruption. Therefore, the only devoted people who could be at the disposal of the Imam, by way of a military force, were those who were devoted to his brother, Hasan (as), i.e. the steadfast ones among his partisans.

So it was certainly unthinkable for the Imam to be foolhardy and lead this small force to bring down the mighty Umayyad rule, after the efforts of his brother had failed, under more favourable conditions and with a stronger military force than the army he expected the Iraqis to prepare for him after the death of Mu'awiya.

This is not our personal interpretation of the circumstances which accompanied Husayn's (as) setting out to Iraq and his uprising; we find the same reading of issues from all the people who advised the Imam to abandon the journey to Iraq; those who could not bear to see him facing the same experience there as his brother Imam Hasan (as) did. These men included Abdullah ibn Abbas, Abdullah ibn Ja'far ibn Abi Talib and others.

We also find this reading of events strongly and repeatedly in the words of Imam Husayn (as) before he set out for Iraq and after. The Imam Tells About His Death In Iraq Here we shall mention only two examples from the Imam's speech, which strongly allude to the fact that he was venturing into martyrdom and sacrifice rather than thinking of military action to bring down the regime by force. The first was in Hijaz before leaving Mecca for Iraq and the second in Karbala.