Despite the hopes of some Democratic opponents of the War on Terror – wishing that the fighting would escalate in Iraq and give an excuse to retreat – radical Islamofascist Muqtada al-Sadr has extended his truce in Iraq for another six months.
And my how things have changed in Iraq, judging by this AP quote:
Sheik al-Sadr has said he needs time to reorganize his militia and the announcement was widely seen as a bid to bolster his image as a major player in Iraq as Shi’ite leaders jockey for power ahead of an anticipated U.S. force reduction.
I find it interesting that the way to gain prestige in Iraq now is to present yourself as a peacemaker, someone trying to help build Iraq back into a thriving country. It seems to me that if one were expecting everything to fall apart once the surge ends, the smart strategy would be to hit one’s opponents first, but Muqtada instead is continuing the truce.
One even wonders if the Mahdi Army even has the strength it used to have, or if some of its numbers have decided that the fight is not worth having anymore, and that they’d rather help build up their homeland. That would explain the need for reorganization, I believe.
In any case, this report is just another sign of transformation in Iraq, that the people are seeking order again after a distressing period of score settling. I welcome this news, as it is another step toward peace and freedom in Iraq.