this is an incredibly dumb move. The last thing we need is to inflame the Shia, who already suspect we are conspiring with the Sunnis. Al-Sadr will no doubt exploit this incident to his advantage.
AL Sadr is where all the Terrorist come from.
He goes back and forth to IRAN, where he gets his supplies.
I say put a bullet between his eyes !
Not as dumb as letting the Shiite terrorists roam free, killing Iraqis and generally stirring up trouble.
If this was indeed a mainly Iraqi operation, with US advisers perhaps, and probably with supporting elements (helicopters, artillery, etc) from US or other coalition forces. Then this is good news indeed. The Iraqi government and military are dominated by Shiites and Kurds. If they are going up against Shiite troublemakers, it means this is not a secular civil war, pitting Shiites against Sunnis, and Kurds against both.