Claire McCaskil is on the Money Posted by Ilan Goldenberg

McCaskil makes the point that JAM was the political winner of the recent fight with the Iraqi government because at the end Sadr was the political winner by not losing.

Crocker says that it's actually strengthened support for Maliki.  But then how does he explain this (Via Matt)?

Iraq's top Shiite religious leaders have told anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr not to disband his Mehdi Army, an al-Sadr spokesman said Monday amid fresh fighting in the militia's Baghdad strongholds.

Update:  It's really important to note that this completely discredits what Crocker has been saying today.  He continues to argue that this was somehow a political victory for Maliki, but the religious leadership, which may actually be just as influential or more influential then parts of the government, is lining up behind Sadr.

Comments

[AarynLaperle]

Here here...

why doesn't anyone seem to recognize that Sadr is more powerful and more popular than Maliki?

[mark]

Because he is popular with average Iraqis as opposed to the elite who spent the Saddam years in exile. The elite ware suits not towels on their heads. They are much more acceptable to the Americans.