Al Hakim's plan for Iraq

So, should I be surprised that the nominal militia leader, whose forces have deeply infiltrated the Iraqi police and completely controls the Interior Ministry, wants those same infiltrated police units and Interior Ministry to receive tons more heavy weapons and equipment and a freer hand?

In talks with US officials, Abdel Aziz Hakim of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), demanded his country be given the means to fight the Sunni rebels targeting his community and the US-backed government.

Iraq needs "American forces to remain in Iraq while transferring more authority to Iraqi officials and forces to enable them to deal with terrorism", the leading cleric said after talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.....

Iraqi government officials often complain that the security forces being trained and equipped by US forces are not receiving the right weapons to take on insurgent forces equipped with heavy arms such as rockets and mortars.

The Iraqi army is largely restricted to light weapons, such as assault rifles and machine-guns.

This is where SCIRI/BADR's longer term plans to infiltrate the state security apparatus will begin to pay off. Sadr's strength derives solely from his popularity with the people. SCIRI/BADR has created this second leg of sustained legitimacy.

(Al Hakim also said the US wasn't doing enough to "fight the insurgency." In other words, hit our Sunni enemies in the civil war harder.)