IRAQ: The Rest of The Story Ahead of the Curve

Research Professor Engram at Back Talk Blog has posted part 3 of his analysis on Al Qaeda & Iran in Iraq titled "The Muqtada al Sadr Maneuver Part III".
If you want to be light years ahead of the curve (and the media) on Iraq, read this excellent and well researched view on whats 'going down' in downtown Baghdad and all points beyond.

For the rest of the story and background...
The Muqtada al Sadr Maneuver Part II (Nov. 11 2007)
The Muqtada al Sadr Maneuver (October 2006)

While the anti-war liberals are still debating whether Al Qaeda is even in Iraq, Engram documents that they are losing badly, how they are losing and why they are losing.
The (Shia) Mahdi Army and Muqtada al Sadr (pictured above) responded to al Qaeda's (Sunni) attempts to provoke civil war (bombing the Golden Mosque 2/22/06) by killing up to 50 young male Sunni's virtually per day (or night as the case may be) resulting in the media declaring Iraq in a "civil war".
The Mahdi Army later 'stood-down' in cooperation with the US in the elimination of al Qaeda in Iraq beginning in Jan 07 with the "SURGE", (squashing Democrats hopes of a civil war) but has strong ties to Iran and still considers the US their enemy, but in the process lost most hope of controlling Iraq themselves. Engram compares them to not much more than a "mafia" type group currently given a choice to quit or die or be prosecuted by the Iraqi government unless left unchecked. With Iranian backing, they may be able however to hang together long enough provide the anti-war liberal media just enough death and destruction photos to keep their hopes alive... for a while.
Oh yes, America is winning the war... make no mistake about that, but now you have the "rest of the story" as to why/how that is so.

-red