Good news coming from Iraq this morning:
“Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has ordered a six-month suspension of activities by his Mahdi Army militia in order to reorganize the force, and it will no longer attack U.S. and coalition troops, aides said Wednesday”Now there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical as to the reasons for al-Sadr’s apparent change of heart this week, but this has to be seen as a positive sign. The AP is reporting his actions, but it would be near impossible to know his intentions.
Is it just the “surge” working its supposed magic that led al-Sadr and his Mahadi Army to temporarily lay down their arms, or is it strategic planning by a cunning warlord who has long-term aspirations in Iraq? If we’ve learned anything in this war, it is that things are rarely as they seem, and the precautionary step forward is the best foot forward.
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