Article is from July of 2004.
That aside, you have little idea what you're talking about. Amarah is the site of inter-militia warfare between the Mahdi and Badr Shiite militias. The Sunni insurgents had little to do with it, nor did anything having to do with "local support" of one side or the other, any more than the gang wars in Los Angeles have much "local support" from the frightened citizens in their turf.
The "freedom fighter" meme croaked a long time ago. Keep up with events.