Sadr's Sermon

Moqtada al-Sadr, the Shi'ite thug who heads up a gang of thugs that has caused quite a bit of carnage in Iraq, has resurfaced in Iraq after taking a breather in Iran.

Sadr used the opportunity to reintroduce himself with the Iraqi people by pushing the Iranian agenda. He wants the US to get out of Iraq.

CNN reports that Sadr said that he did not want his thugs to go after Iraqis. Well, they'd already been going after other Iraqis less frequently because the US and Iraqi surge has been working to put a crimp in Sadr's plans.

Sadr's flacks had been trying to claim that Sadr was in Iraq all along, but his sermon belies the nonsense. He was busy in Iran talking with the mad mullahs to decide what to do next to further Iranian interests in Iraq.

Bill Roggio notes the following:

Questions remain on what the impact Sadr's return will have on the ongoing Baghdad Security Plan, the status of the Mahdi Army and efforts to quell the sectarian violence.

It is unclear who returned with Sadr. A large convoy of up to 60 vehicles accompanied him into Iraq. The Mahdi Army fragmented upon Sadr's departure, as senior commanders and paymasters abandoned the rank and file. Abu Deraa, the "Shia Zarqawi" was aid to have fled to Iran in January. Sadr may seek to reestablish command and control over the Mahdi Army, but it remains to be seen if this will be possible. This process will certainly take time.

As the Mahdi Army fragmented last winter, a force of about 3,000 Mahdi fighters were said to have sided with Iran (Sadr has long been considered an Iranian vassal) and are training in Iranian camps. The U.S. and Iraq government courted the more moderate elements of the Mahdi Army in an effort to break the organization apart. The American military was able to enter Sadr city and establish a Joint Security Station with the support of the district's mayor.

Hot Air also weighs in on Sadr's reemergence in Iraq.