[Semi Civil Servant]

"Let's all get along."

"Let's get the 'occupiers' to leave."

" Then I'll stage a coup."

--Al Sadr

[Dr. Frank fan]

Exactly.

You know what comes to my mind when witnessing this whole spectacle? The Sopranos.

It's a shakedown. Mafia-style. One faction makes a show of force, the "big men" come in and "make peace". All of them ultimately working for the same people. Whatever power guys like Sadr have is based on a phony protection racket.

[Austin Willard Wright]

Why should he stage a coup? He is a kingmaker with the "freedom-loving, democratic" Shi'ite majority who rule Iraq. Isn't this what we fought for?

[quantim]

" Then I'll stage a coup."

Yep, while waving the nuclear flag.  I have this awful feeling Iran thinks it's tougher than it really is and as soon as the U.S. scales down presence they will attack Iraq.