Iraq's government "is beholden to the Sadrists"

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-08-14-mahdi-army_x.htm

U.S.-Iraqi offensive tries to steer clear of Shiite militia

BAGHDAD — The growing strength of the Mahdi Army, the violent Shiite militia loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, is raising concerns that an ongoing U.S.-Iraqi offensive could trigger a clash with the group.

U.S. and Iraqi officials have been careful to say the Baghdad offensive is designed to go after sectarian death squads and militias of all stripes, partly to avoid singling out the Mahdi Army, which clashed with U.S. forces two years ago.

"If they feel like they're being threatened, then they'll fight," said Brig. Gen. Dana Pittard, commander of the Iraqi Assistance Group, which advises Iraqi security forces. "We certainly hope that cooler heads prevail."

The U.S. military says there are 6,000 to 10,000 Mahdi Army militiamen in Iraq's capital. And they are well-armed, said Col. Talib Abdul Razzaq, commander of an Iraqi battalion in Baghdad. snip

Today, al-Sadr's political organization is part of the Shiite-led Iraqi government, which complicates the government's response. Al-Sadr's political organization has 30 seats in Parliament and controls several ministries. Iraq's government "is beholden to the Sadrists" because they helped bring Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to power, said Joost Hiltermann of the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based organization that works to prevent conflict.

[TomInTib]

1. Then, we are in a stand-off....

and they have the upper hand...