AFTER ALL, WE WON THE REVOLUTION FOR THEM:

Shiites move toward sovereign image, away from Iran (Garrett Therolf, 5/13/07, Los Angeles Times)

Iraq's largest Shiite party pledged its allegiance Saturday to the country's top Shiite cleric in a move apparently aimed at establishing its distance from Iran, where it formed and grew for decades before the 2003 U.S.-led invasion here.

The announcement by the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq was not a sudden shift. It has sought to align itself with the cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, ever since coming out of exile in Iran, claiming one-quarter of Iraq's Parliament seats and taking control of the southern provinces centered in Najaf with its Badr Organization militia.

But the announcement did seem to be an effort to solidify a more sovereign Iraqi image, and it included pledges to oppose "terrorists" and cooperate with Sunnis, all commitments sought by the U.S.

In the announcement, party leader Abdelaziz Hakim said the changes were a reflection of "the new equilibrium ruling Iraq." As a result, the party dropped "revolution" from its name and will call itself the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council.