1. Iraq: Initial Benchmark Assessment Report
(Mamblog/Default Category)

...litia to largely stand down its operations appeared to have a temporary effect, but a breakdown in Muqtada al Sadr’s ability to control JAM ‑‑ or elements thereof ‑‑ coin...

2. Everlasting darkness
(Opinions/Features)

...ad, leaving her eyes buried under badly burnt skin. Shams was with her parents when three cars exploded in Al Sadr, the predominantly Shia area of Baghdad, last year. Her mother died instantly. Shams ...

3. Middle East Analyst Juan Cole on War in the Middle East
(Opinions/Society)

...ty to take part in what's been called a million man march. The protest was called by Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr to show support for Hezbollah. Juan Cole is a leading expert on the Middle East. He ...

4. Iraq's Sovereignty Vacuum (Part 1)
(Opinions/Politic)

...y's population. It was dominated by the Sadrist movement led by young "firebrand" cleric Muqtada al Sadr, and effectively policed by the movement's militia, the Mahdi Army. New York Times re...

5. Iraq parliament approves US pact
(Archived/News/Arab)

Iraq's parliament has approved a security pact that allows US troops to stay in Iraq for three more years.

6. US troops battle Shia militia
(Archived/News/Arab)

Fighting broke out between Shia militiamen and US and Iraqi forces during a raid to arrest alleged members of a death squad in Baghdad, the US military says.