Who's in charge?

Iraq's Sadr orders followers off streets
By Khaled Farhan, Reuters
30 March 2008
NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called on his followers on Sunday to stop battling government forces after a week of fighting in southern Iraq and Baghdad threatened to spiral out of control.

Events may well prove me wrong, but I'm guessing that al Sadr's Mahdi Army by-and-large observes the cease-fire order.

Makes you wonder who's in charge in Iraq. The Government or al Sadr?

In the best of all possible worlds, if a cease-fire holds, we - the U.S. military & our official Iraqi Government allies - will use al Sadr's generosity to our advantage to begin brokering a permanent settlement with al Sadr that includes political recognition and participation. Of course, this is bucking recent history. Al Sadr's August cease-fire was met with increased military pressure on his organization. This eventually led to the current mess.

Out now!

Stop the madness!