Here are links to
the news story and
my commentary on it (the conclusion of a lengthy post on al-Sadr, whom I haven't specifically blogged about before).
Excerpts are in the extended copy of this entry.
From the
Guardian:
Coalition and Iraqi officials are preparing an arrest warrant for the firebrand Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr over his alleged involvement with the brutal murder of a rival cleric last spring, sources close to the Iraqi governing council told the Guardian yesterday.
The warrant, which has yet to be finalised, cites Mr Sadr for instigating a deadly attack on Abdel Majid al-Khoei, who was stabbed to death by a mob in the Shia holy city of Najaf on April 10.
It is said to be signed by Tahir Jalil Habboush - a senior mukhabarat officer under the former regime who now works with the coalition authorities - and is based on the confessions of 23 men who were involved in the killing.
"The belief of the coalition is that al-Sadr is not containable," the council source said. "They believe there is enough evidence that Muqtada was involved in the Khoei assassination and want to act to clip his wings before he can cause any more damage."
From my commentary:
It would be an ironic rescue from his own mistakes if the U.S. were to make a martyr out of Muqtada al-Sadr by arresting him. Such a dramatic action would energize his currently dormant supporters, making them willing collaborators with the tactically skilled Sunni guerrillas (who have already established connections with al-Sadr). Even worse, it would encourage popular support for him, as it would inspire parallels with the legacy of his martyred father. The resulting PR disaster for the Americans would be especially bad coming on the heels of protests fueled by other recent outrages.
All in all, however malign his intentions (and actions) might be, the U.S. occupation would be better off letting al-Sadr continue to blunder his way out of public favor, rather than risk escorting him back into it with a phalanx of American tanks.