It was only a year ago that analysts everywhere crowned Moqtada Al-Sadr as “the most powerful man in Iraq” and continued to so label him even as late as the last week of April 2008. Ongoing attempts to justify this assertion became increasingly hilarious, and finally today even the Grey Lady admits it’s just not true, at least not anymore:
BAGHDAD — The militia that was once the biggest defender of poor Shiites in Iraq, the Mahdi Army, has been profoundly weakened in a number of neighborhoods across Baghdad, in an important, if tentative, milestone for stability in Iraq.
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The shift, if it holds, would solidify a transfer of power from Mr. Sadr, who had lorded his once broad political support over the government, to Mr. Maliki, who is increasingly seen as a true national leader.
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The change is showing up in the lives of ordinary people. The price of cooking gas is less than a fifth of what it was when the militia controlled local gas stations, and kerosene for heating has also become much less expensive. In interviews, 17 Iraqis, including municipal officials, gas station workers and residents, described a pattern in which the militia’s control over the local economy and public services had ebbed. Merchants say they no longer have to pay protection money to militiamen.
Many of us made the point before that the Mahdi “Army” was little more than a street gang or sectarian mafia that could not possibly stand up to a real army. As predicted, they have evaporated like the dew whenever the U.S.-trained Iraqi Army show up in any numbers.
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"The militia that was once the biggest defender of poor Shiites in Iraq… The price of cooking gas is less than a fifth of what it was when the militia controlled local gas stations…"
Kind of the way the Democratic Party protects poor Americans from Wal-Mart. The NYT is nothing if not consistent.
Hi, long time listener, first time caller, as they say.
Just a small nitpick. "US-trained Iraqi Army". As an Australian. it would be unpatriotic of me not to point out that the ADF trained about 20,000 of the Iraqi army soldiers.
Otherwise, your coverage on Iraq is excellent, Dave. As for the "analysts", I particularly like the way they crowned al-Sadr the winner in Basra after 6 days. It’s like declaring a football match over towards the end of the first half. Someone should have told the Iraqi Army that the game was over.
lawrencema,
As an American who has supported our efforts in Iraq, I think I speak for many of a similar mind in extending our appreciation to Australia for it’s steadfast commitment to the effort there. Thank you! Here’s to hoping that our shared efforts continue to bear fruit.
Keith,
You definitely speak for me in that regard!Â
it would be unpatriotic of me not to point out that the ADF trained about 20,000 of the Iraqi army soldiers.
Noted and appreciated!
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