Shi’ite militia ceasefire extended in Iraq

(How important is this announcement to the US?) It is very important and it has been welcomed. Sadr’s ceasefire in the fall is seen as one of three major reasons for the improvement in security over the last six months, the others being the surge and creating Sunni local watches. The number of bodies being found since last summer, we were hearing of 40-70 bodies being found around the city, mainly of Sunnis�and the Mehdi Army was believed to be behind a lot of those killings, and also of attacks on US and Iraqi government forces. (How much has the ceasefire been of help? Who gets the credit here, the surge or Sadr?) Well US commanders and the US Ambassador credit all these factors. (Why did Sadr decide to extend this truce?) He knows his militia in many places had become street gangs and that his militia had been getting a bad name. (So what can we expect in August when this next ceasefire is up?) Well in August the troop surge should be finished, it will be back down to pre-surge levels. At that time, US officials are advocating that there should be a pause and stop and assess the situation.