Sadr is good

For a very young man, Moqtada al Sadr is remarkably savvy.

After his organization was successfully blamed for the abandonment of the Karbala festival, Sadr took the unprecedented step of "suspending all militia activities" for six months. This move garnered him praise from the desperate Maliki government and the US and had the internal political effect of deflecting the allegations of blame onto "rogue elements" of his organization.

But, when is a six month suspension not six months?

Radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr told his followers Thursday that he would rescind his order "freezing" the operations of his powerful militia if military raids on his offices did not cease in the next few days, according to officials of Sadr's organization.

So, Sadr gets the political benefit of a suspension, and then, within a week or so, has the option of reopening militia operations, re-presenting himself as simply working to protect the Shia.

We are not operating on this level.

(Of course, in a political environment where mistakes equal death, I guess you do get sharp pretty quick.)