Sadr Hold May Be Slipping In Iraq
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

Iran’s bellicosity comes as its closest Iraqi political ally, Moqtada al Sadr, appears to be capitulating to the Iraqi government’s demand that his Mahdi Army disarm and rejoin the political process as a social services organization. The Wall Street Journal reported last night that a recent brochure for Mr. Sadr’s organization says the Mahdi Army “is not allowed to use arms at all.” The brochure also says “The Mahdi Army will now be guided by Shiite spirituality instead of anti-American militancy.”