sponsored groups; the Mahdi army is very nationalistic and al Sadr is very much opposed to Khomeinism.
The Sunnis are old line Baathists, supported by the Saudis, we are paying to behave while the Kurds Pesh Merga is supporting PKK raids on Turkish territory.  There has been no large capture of Iranian arms from Mahdi Army sources nor have theie been captures of Qod operatives training Mahdi Army types.
There are some 50 militias active in Iraq. I think you will find that the attacks on Sadr City are an attempt by the US to clear away a deadzone around the Green Zone so the GZ will not be under daily rocket and mortar fire as it now.

As to our plans for the Middle East, Taliban operatives penetrated 18 rings of security around the imperial palace in Kabul to take potshots at Karzai and his officials. Only 3 guards were killed but the Taliban had Israeli made minimortars that Olmert had provided to Fatah and Abbas.

Makes one wonder if the al Arabiya view of Iraq really has any ties to reality instead of military wishful thinking.