Tom Brosz said:

>Almost to the last one, they consider Sadr a complete asshat,
>and the sooner the coalition takes him and his thugs out the
>better. Not a formal poll by any means, but still encouraging.

Sadr **IS** a complete asshat. I suspect most of the Iraqi bloggers have travelled in the West or are either Christian or agnostic. To them, the notion of a Khomeni style Islamic theocracy is as bad or worse that Saddam's tyranny. Recent opinion polls seem to indicate that this opinion is widespread in Iraq and not simply unique to bloggers. This Iraqi opinion strengthens the theory that Sadr is acting as an Iranian agent.

>I have been hearing from military sources that they are getting
>a lot of cooperation in taking out the Sadr militia from Iraqi
>civilians. Phone tips and other quiet assistance. Understandably,
>the civilians aren't sticking their necks out any farther than they
>have to.

If Kerry was elected President, the U.S. would probably cut and run. Any Iraqi who previously cooperated with us would go to the wall (remember all the Vietnamese boat people after the fall of Saigon?). I'm sure most Iraqis are opposed to Sadr but they won't go public until it's a sure bet that secular democracy will prevail in Iraq. Lots of schemes within schemes within schemes. This thing is like a chess game or that dinner scene in "Dune".

Gary