The reason why Moqtada is still breathing is the State Departmen/Collin Powell, with their "great" idea of involving them into the political process!
If I remember my civics lessons well enough, the State Dept and Colin Powell reported to the President of the United States of America. Pretending that Powell was off making policy by himself is naive.
BINGO. Pretty much everything that Dept of State touches turns to s**t. Probably the most dangerous and negative results producing organization in the executive branch. The suits in the CIA/FBI are tied for a close second.