Sadr extends his cease-fire

For at least another six months. This is good news for Iraq, but beyond that, it is rather disturbing that this is an issue at all.

Muqtada Al-Sadr's Mehdi army, sometimes on his orders and sometimes without, is responsible for countless incidents of torture, kidnappings, roadside bombs, snipings and executions. One example: in 2006, an 8 year-old boy was found in one of our sectors in Baghdad dead, with drill marks in his body (torture with a power drill was a signature of Sadr's forces). And this is all in addition to his uprising of 2004 where his people directly engaged US forces (and paid a dear price for it).

So he extends the cease fire, and that's supposed to be generous? Why wouldn't he? His men have thoroughly infiltrated the Iraqi police and Army, and hold many powerful positions in government. Whenever we captured a Mehdi member, they would often be myseriously released later by the Iraqi Army/Police. Sadr is sitting pretty; he doesn't have to rock the boat.

I understand that getting rid of him would greatly destablize the country. Still, I look forward to the day that this man is jailed and put on trial for his crimes.