"Don't forget, al Qaida is Sunni, and loosely aligned with Iran" - GG

Al Qaeda is Sunni but their connection with Iran is highly speculative.

Sadr. on the other hand, is much closer to Iran. Sadr comes from a long line of Shia clerics. Maliki, too, is Shia but more secular.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that the Iraqis want a clerical leader; which is not surprising. When all is lost, people turn to religion.

Sadr may be a murdering thug but he is their murdering thug. I have no doubt that Sadr (with the help of Iran) can help the Iraqi people more than anyone else. The U.S. should get out and give Iraqis the right to self determination.