[Prokopton]

"With al-Qaeda gone the main reason the Madhi Army exists in Iraq will be gone."

The Madhi Army is an extension of Iran. They exist, and will continue to exist, to insure Iranian, Shiite control over, at least parts of, Iraq. They will fight Iraqi Sunnis
and even other Iraqi Shiites if they threaten this control.

[jmc1969]

I know why Iran supports them.

But, I also know the only way they keep their support from a decient chunk of the Shia community is the fear of the terrorists.

By pretending to be the great Shia protector the Madhi Army has maintained its support. Without al-Qaeda many Shia would quickly start asking why this gang is still there.

[Marine_Uncle]

That remains to be seen. I hope you are aware of the recent (last half year) developments within the SCIRI. One thing they are planning on doing is renaming their party to something that does not imply they are a radical revolutionary party. They have given little trouble in essence to the new IG, and some of their members are working well under the PM's cabinets.
We do not get a balanced view of the many good changes that are occuring within this new government as well as the little better idea of how their military and police forces are being improved on a daily basis.

[WOSG]

"The Madhi Army is an extension of Iran. They exist, and will continue to exist, to insure Iranian, Shiite control over, at least parts of, Iraq. They will fight Iraqi Sunnis
and even other Iraqi Shiites if they threaten this control."

Yes. The good news there is that the respected leader Sistani explicitly opposes and rejects al-sadr's approach.