Intelligence Officials Predict Sadr Militia Will Lower Profile in Baghdad

U.S. intelligence leaders told Congress yesterday that Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will probably lower the profile of his powerful militia in Baghdad and watch to see whether the new U.S.-Iraqi strategy of placing more troops in the city is aimed at uncontrolled violence or specifically at him and his organization.

"There's a clear indication at the present time he's not looking for contacts with coalition forces," CIA Director Michael V. Hayden told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence yesterday. "And to the degree he controls Jaish al-Mahdi -- and that's a very important factor -- to the degree that he controls this, he's trying not to bait us or confront us into confrontation."

Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, delivered a similar message about Sadr and his organization, which is also known as the Mahdi Army. "They will probably reduce their level of activity in the near term in order to see what's going to happen, how it's going to happen, particularly in Baghdad. And I think they will continue to operate in other parts of Iraq to further establish their influence over the Shia population," he said.

Read the rest at the Washington Post

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