THE BAD COP:

Muqtada and Maliki as united as ever (Sami Moubayed, 4/17/07, Asia Times)

Significantly, though, Muqtada did not withdraw his 30 deputies from the 275-seat Parliament. Had he done that, it would automatically have brought down not only the Maliki cabinet but the entire Iran-backed United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) that heads Parliament and in which the Sadrists are a leading group.

Muqtada and Maliki apparently want the world to believe that they are no longer friends. They have not become enemies, however; at least not yet.

One of Maliki's advisors downplayed Muqtada's decision, saying that Muqtada was only practicing his "democratic right". She added, in what might explain why this break is not permanent, "Despite the difference in our views [with the Sadrists], our national vision is the same - only the methods of achieving it are different. We need to have real opposition from outside the government. This is a great beginning. The prime minister needs real opposition that can act as a watchdog inside Parliament."

What's on display is the wisdom of our spiriting Mookie to Iran. This way he's untainted by the Surge and a return to a more active anti-Sunni militia a viable option as it fails.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 17, 2007 9:37 AM