Ayatollah To The Rescue?

Najaf is still the centerpoint of violence in Iraq. It looks like someone (maybe from Sadr's forces?) is attempting to paint either the US or the Iraqi army as responsible for two attacks on protestors in Kufa. One attack reported left 74 dead, while the other just scared 2000-3000 protestors with machine gun fire above their heads.

If, as most commentators have long since pointed out, Sistanti's influence is ultimately stronger for most Iraqi Shia than is Sadr's, then his call for a march on Najaf may be a very good thing for Iraq and the US. If foreign militants are leading the pro-Sadr brigades, then his people will call attention to that fact. If they are Iraqis, then they will have the moral authority to plead like brothers for them to put down their arms.

Sistani may be sympathetic to Iran to some degree, but he doesn't seem to be as tightly wrapped around their finger as is Sadr.