[mrsmith]

Yeah, I think Iran made the difference.

But why Iran threw away the Sadr militia and much of their force of agents just to cause trouble is beyond me. They should have only had to lie low and their influence would grow, but I assume Iran saw something else that made them think that wouldn't work.

[68skylark]

Yeah, closed societies are a real mystery.

I can easily see why they don't want Iraq to be a nice, tolerant, free and stable country. Some of their own people are about to rebel, and giving them good examples of freedom will only increase the pressure on the tyrants who run the place now.

[thedugal]

But why Iran threw away the Sadr militia and much of their force of agents just to cause trouble is beyond me

It's simple. Sadr is a red cape, we are a bull and Iran is the matador. So long as we are preoccupied with the red cape, we are not watching the matador pull out the sword (nuclear weapons). The terrorists play the media, the left and the soccer moms "like a harp from hell". Fortunately, Bush and Rummy know this and have no intention of letting Iran get away with it.