Saddam's Replacement

Moktada al-Sadr, as Steve Gilliard points out, is rapidly becoming a hero and a power base:

....What the US doesn't realize is that their Vichy government is roundly detested by Iraqis of all stripes. They may hate and fear the thugish theocracy Sadr would impose, but they revile the IGC and its handpicked exile collaborators. Cowards is the kindest words for them. The US seems not to realize that the only loyalty Iraqis have to them is money. Which is why the insurgent-riddled police and Civil Guard have turned their backs on their American paymasters. There is no political figure working with the US who inspires any kind of loyalty. Why shouldn't they throw their lot in with the rebellion? They still have to live there and the Americans have been all too cavalier with their lives. Not enough weapons, protection, facilities. Sadr, for all his flaws, inspires loyalty. They know he's suffered with them and paid a tremedous personal price because of Saddam. And he hasn't backed down to the Americans. As much as you can dislike his beliefs, and question his judgment, his character inspires people. It's not that Sistani and Hakim were wrong in trying to get an election out of the Americans. But too many people have been killed, robbed and abused by Americans for that to stand. Sadr lost his entire family to Saddam. He's the last man standing and that carries a great deal of weight with people The Americans treated him like a pest until it was much too late. He was no pest, but the representative of the poor and disenfranchised. And because he helped them, they will help him. Americans neither respect nor understand Iraqis and refuse to admit this. Anyone who knew the Iraqi character knew we would reach this day. The Iraqis were destined to chafe under US rule, even indirectly. Saddam had to kill 300,000 people to control Iraq. The Americans cannot do that. Iraqi nationalism is what held the country together and kept the Shia quiet for decades. The Army was held together by nationalism, not Saddam. It is that Army which has popped up from time to time, most recently in Ramadi. When they checked the dead, it was filled with middle aged men, people who had fought against the Iranians and Americans. If middle age men are fighting the Americans, people with families and kids to support, our troubles in Iraq will soon be over. Because we will no longer be there.

So, basically, if the present course of events continue then Sadr will end up as Saddam's replacement, in so many ways, and all the death and destruction we have thus wrought upon this nation will be for naught.

HERE is some background info on Moktada al-Sadr.