The Wars Inside the War: Shi'ite Power Struggle

From Michael Gordon, an important (though lengthy) write-up about trying to pacify southern Iraq, and the political realities.

The Last Battle

The tug of war among the religious parties and the Shiite tribes has emerged as one of the most-significant but also least-understood aspects of Iraq’s political scene. It pits leaders from the Shiite core of Maliki’s coalition against outsiders looking for a way in. It is a struggle between party officials who spent the Saddam years in exile, mostly in Iran, and tribal leaders who endured his rule at home — and, on another level, a contest between urbanized Shiites, who lean more toward the religious parties and Sadr’s movement, and agrarian Iraqis, whose loyalties lie more in tribal society. Significantly, it is also a rivalry between Shiites who favor a government based on religious parties and those who have a more secular vision.

An old read on the Sadr - Badr (SCIRI - SIIC) political rivalry.

Many focus on the greater Sunni, Shia and Kurd divide with emphasis on oil revenue sharing as the main problem hindering political progress. This may not even be half of the problem. The fight for political supremacy and the future control of Iraq among the Shi'ite will decide whether this government survives and the insurgency is totally quailed. Once that is settled, Iraq may be able to implement many of the other necessary plans such as reducing corruption, insuring non-sectarian governance and providing Iraqis with a sense of real justice.

Mahdi Army's "Martyrs List"

Shiite rivals are waging gangland-style hits with diminishing fear of reprisals.

Sadr gearing up for provincial elections still trying to influence the government with his version of "sticks and carrots". 

We are Iraqis and you shouldn't say such things!

Sadr announces Mahdi Army transformation into a civic organization

The brochure states the al-Mumahidoon will undertake an intellectual and scientific jihad that focuses on education, religion and social justice. It also says “It (the army) is not allowed to use arms at all.” The al-Mumahidoon office will be divided into sections for the teachings of the faithful, religion, education and social services, as well as departments for information, administration and a follow-up section. Posters have been put up in some areas of Baghdad saying a new direction for the Mahdi Army will be announced at this Friday’s prayers. The posters also bear the name al-Mumahidoon.