Is Prime Minister Maliki Iraq's Bush?

Moktada al-Sadr is withdrawing six loyal ministers from the Iraqi cabinet. NYTimes - Legislators working for Mr. Sadr said at a news conference that Mr. Sadr waswithdrawing his ministers because the government had refused to set a timetablefor pulling American troops out of Iraq. (Sounds familiar)

Sadr was a key factor for Maliki getting his job; controls 30 members of parliament;and controls the Mahdi Army. This has become a "contradiction fest"

The move by Mr. Sadr, who went underground at the start of the new Baghdadsecurity plan in February, appeared to be an attempt by the young cleric toshore up his reputation as an opposition figure in Iraq’s fragmented andacrimonious political landscape, yet still maintain power in Baghdad.

Last week, on the fourth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad, Mr. Sadr calledfor a protest of tens of thousands in the holy city of Najaf to demand an end tothe American military presence in Iraq.

Mr. Maliki has asked Mr. Sadr to calm his powerful militia, the MahdiArmy, during the new security push, and the Iraqi Army and American forcesrecently fought cells of the militia in the southern city of Diwaniya.

American forces have also stepped up raids against Mahdi Army commandersand arrested some senior leaders, Iraqi officials say.

Last fall, Mr. Sadr ordered his legislators and ministers to suspend theirparticipation in the government to protest a meeting between Mr. Maliki andPresident George W. Bush in Jordan.

Mr. Maliki had rebuffed an order from Mr. Sadr not to meet with the Americanpresident. Then, the Sadr politicians returned to the government after twomonths.

American commanders say the number of death squad victims has dropped duringthe new security plan, in part because Mr. Sadr has ordered his militia tolie low.

When the government was formed last year, the ministries were divided upamong the country’s leading political parties. In the division, eachministry become the fiefdom of a particular sect or ethnic group. Replacingthe six Sadr ministries will no doubt involve long bouts of deal-making amongthe various parties.

Mr. Sadr also controls the ministries of agriculture, civil society andprovincial affairs.

This is just another one of the mountingissues that are making things worse in Iraq. We went to Afghanistan to take outOsama bin Laden, then before finishing business, we invaded Iraq "becausethey had WMD's" (which changed into 5 other reasons).

Some of the recentissues arising that only make things messier;  Protest in Pakistan;Turkey Wants to Invade The Kurds in N. Iraq;The Green War Zone;

This is starting to resemble the fairy tale by Mother Goose "Thisis the House That Jack Built",  and with a change of a few words,has become "This is The War that George Built"