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In Iraq, U.S. officials are confronting a different kind of problem. Moqtada al-Sadr, the radical Shiite cleric once hunted by U.S. troops, last week sought to become a political kingmaker. Sadr's 32-seat faction sent the favored Shiite candidate for prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, to narrow defeat. Sadr was jubilant. "The U.S. brought democracy to the Middle East but God turned the tables and made the democratic process a weapon against the U.S.," he said on Syrian TV.

Yet even as Sadr was boasting, Iraqi politicians were beginning to rebel against his power, prodded behind the scenes by U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad. According to a knowledgeable official in Washington, who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the situation, Khalilzad was sending the message that Iraq's next leaders don't want to displease America, with all of its military leverage and aid. By the end of last week it was no longer certain that Sadr's favored candidate, the mildly Islamist Ibrahim Jaafari, would become the new prime minister.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11435101/site/newsweek/

"Eventually they [Hamas] will recognize Israel. Otherwise we will eat s--t with our hands and feet."
And like the Palis, Sadr will take the plunge into oblivion as more Iraqi see he is the most dangerous man in Iraq at present. I just hope this has not been Sistani's plan all along. But then. He may really be totally out of the process as he has claimed. No one seems to be able to control this once minor cleric. Perhaps one of the few good things is that he is rather straight forward. You know where you stand with him. Shia dominated Islamic government, revenge toward the Sunni sects, and control of a fairly powerful militia within the confines of a heavy dominated poor rent district of Baghdad. Then as I write, I think back in 2005 when he promised he would have the Madi militia disband and then join the political process. Obviously the militia if anything has grown stronger. Though it may be quiet for the most part, it sits like a tiger waiting to strike upon the fat boy's command, to do all kinds of mischief.
Hopefully his influence will be countered effectively soon. These guys must elect the leaders. It is understandable how it takes time. Like America it took years to get over the hump. So guess all we can do is watch and hope the political processes do not crumble. Let us hope the many responsible influencial leaders behind the scenes are working to get this whale out of the way and other to overly radical contenders from both the Shia and Sunni driven sects. Else, no good is going to come of this experiment. The Iraqi people desperately need a government that will start to deliver both in security, domestics, and in economical development. They need lots of new industries, as well as a newly improved infrastructure where the majority of Iraqi regardless of the province they live in see the effects of good goverance. As usual however. We do not see the whole picture. For all we know millions of Iraqis may really want a democratic form of government that will make their lives better down the pike. If so, guys like Sadr may only have a moment in the sun, then dissaper from the scene.