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.

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Truthdig says:

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

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