"trying to intimidate the Iraqi people into becoming an ally of Israel" and it being the reason for staying in Iraq, would be the dumbest thing I would have read on the internet if the internet wasn't the internet.

Sorry buddy I don't mean to offend you, but you leftist make sean hannity look like a renaissance man.

Having personal dealing with Mahdi Militia – whether he obtains Iraq this year or in the years to come is inconsequential – he will attempt to seize Iraq before the main stay Iranians do. The entire section of Iraq south of Baghdad support his efforts. They would rather have Sadr take control than a Persian master – despite what GA Sistani would like to see happen. It's going to be bloody either way.

First, and best, it will give Obama cover for withdrawing troops in this losing effort, trying to intimidate the Iraqi people into becoming an ally of Israel.
Or is there some other reason for prolonging the withdrawal ?

Second, NOBODY is more sensitive to adverse Iranian influence than the Iraq nationalist Sayyid al-Sadr.

Finally God has smiled on us. Thanks be to God.
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Currently, Ammar (nicknamed Udai after Saddam's son) al-Hakim is the leader of the bloc, and is now desperate for an alliance with Maliki. But the election results, expected tomorrow, will see him replaced with a Sadrist who want the son of the late Mohammed Sadr who is a member of Maliki's bloc to be the next PM — which the SoL totally rejects.

Although it is true that some of Maliki's inner cicrcle are saying that the two blocs will merge (to the delights of Iran,) others are saying it is not on.

Meanwhile, Allawi is courting the Sadrists to form a nationalist, anti-Maliki, front which includes the entire INA bloc, not just the Sadr faction. Significant smaller lists such as Bolani's and some Sunni blocs are happy to join, and strangely so is Barazani.