What a novel concept, letting the people decide their own destiny.  Self-determination after all is the sovereign, unwritten, right of any lands occupied by the U.S.  For example, territories like Guam can join the Union or part ways with this Union of States by an overwhelming vote of its people.  Similarly, nations with whom the United States of America establishes Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs) with, have the sovereign right to restrict, amend, or deny any and/or all terms of the agreement.

Al-Sadr, a Shiite cleric leader in Iraq (based in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq and leader of the militant anti-government Mahdi Army) advocates for a national referendum on the what the status of U.S. forces in Iraq should be.  The current approach by both the U.S. and Iraq is to negotiate out the terms of a SOFA, which does not require the approval of any elected “body,” rather only the approval of the Executive Branches of the respective governments.  The negotiations should be wrapping up before the end of the year, as that is also the time when the UN mandate approving of the Coalition troop presence in Iraq ends.

It seems that al-Sadr, who is rumored to be studying to become an Ayatollah, is fairly well versed in how Democracy works.  In what is sure to be every laymen’s honest opinion, giving the Iraqi people the right to choose whether or not the U.S. continues its troops presence in Iraq is the right thing to do.  However, you’d probably be forming that opinion without regard to how Iraqi’s form theirs.

Muslims - in general - wherein they exist in Islamic countries, form their opinions off what their respective clerics tell them to think.  And after clashing with U.S. troops for the better part of the last two to three years, Al-Sadr, his Mahdi Army, and Iranian watered roots would be right their to tell the people how they should vote on that referendum.  For Al-Sadr, a national referendum on the U.S. troop presence is a win-win situation.  By advocating for it, he looks to be embracing the Democratic process, and embracing “western” ideology.  At the same time the outcome of that referendum would be swayed by which ever direction his voice carries the hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people who listen to him.  In the end, he would rid Iraq of its U.S. presence, effectivelyeliminating the last threat to his power.  He then could easily overrun the Iraqi Government as he has proven to be able to do in Basra.  Finally turning Iraq in another Clerical, Ayatollah, run state like Iran.  Sounds like the next few years will be exciting and tumultuous with al-Sadr around…