Muqtadas Softer Side More Extended

Muqtada’s Softer Side

A more extended analysis of Muqtada al-Sadr’s recent softening toward the US presence and his turn to playing ordinary politics instead of appealing to a kind of radical politics of theater and, to be frank, thuggery, has appeared by Hamza Hendawi. He argues that Muqtada is now reaching out to other Shiite groups. He has recently urged peaceful coexistence with the US forces in Iraq, though earlier he had demanded that they leave immediately. His Friday sermon last week did, however, include chanting against Israel and condemnations of colonialism.

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