Anti-American Cleric Rising as Iraqi Kingmaker

New York Times:

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 15—Late Saturday night, on the eve of a crucial vote to choose Iraq’s next prime minister, a senior Iraqi politician’s cellphone rang. A supporter of the Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr was on the line with a threat.

“He said that there’s going to be a civil war among the Shia” if Mr. Sadr’s preferred candidate was not confirmed, the politician said.

Full story

Truthdig says:

Check out Truthdig’s Robert Scheer on the ominous implications of Sadr’s ascendancy. 

From weekly.ahram.org.eg

The influential and virulently anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr