Patrick Barry over at Democracy Arsenal gives some reasons why we should take Moqtada al-Sadr's threats to end his ceasefire seriously in their own right, and not just in the context of our strategically over-leveraged position in Iraq:
The United States is coming to realize what Iraqis themselves have long understood: Moqtada al-Sadr will play a pivotal role in the future of the country. Before, administration officials viewed him as a rogue, presiding over a rag-tag group of Shi'a militants. But now, Sadr is in a position so advantageous that it renders such claims untenable. He has consolidated authority over rogue elements within his militia and he has taken the first steps towards attaining Ayatollah status - a title that would dramatically increase his influence.
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