The Coming Battle?

Najaf is possibly the turning point for the new Iraqi government. Their ability to keep Moktada in check without angering the Shia nationwide will show their political skill and strength.

In related news, the Shia fighting for a role in the new parliment are fighting hard to be the dominant force in any new Iraq.

It's a stubborn determination not to give in" on the part of the religious parties, "who made a very big demand," said Samir Sumaitey, a former interior minister. But as the conference closed Tuesday night, it seemed the Shiites did not prevail, and one cleric from the Shiite Dawa Party denounced the gathering. In an attempt at 11th-hour diplomacy, some delegates paid a visit to Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the leader of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, an influential Shiite political organization.

With Sadr pinned down -- but definitely not out -- the Shia are also close to a monumental moment: back Sadr, oppose Allawi's government for failing to respect their importance in the country and start an (Iranian backed) coup or disown Sadr publically and renounce some of their more extreme claims to power.

The likely response is some middle position to the above, but the Shia must come out publicly with a stand either for or against Sadr and the Iraqi government. Playing it both ways may only undermine their power as they will seem to be indecisive and weak.

UPDATE

On Wednesday evening, however, Safiya al-Suhail, an independent Shiite delegate at the conference, said she had received a letter from al-Sadr's Baghdad office saying he accepted the proposal.

"Moqtada al-Sadr has agreed on the conditions set by the National Conference," she said reading the letter to the conference.

"We call on the Iraqi government and the National Conference to participate in implementing what is proposed by Moqtada al-Sadr, otherwise everybody will bear the responsibility," the letter said.

Truth?