We've all heard the spin from last week's inconclusive fight between Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army and Iraqi troops in Basra. Most media outlets have judged the offensive by the government a failure and that only by the good graces of Iran was Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki able to pull out and save face.Indeed, expect that theme to be hammered home tomorrow when General Petreaus and Ambassador Crocker testify before the Senate to give an update on progress in Iraq since September.But something is happening in Iraq that probably won't make it to the Committee room; Maliki is finally cofronting the problem of militias in Iraq. And in an even bigger surprise, his government seems more united on this issue (and his crackdown in Basra) than on any other issue since he took power.And lo and behold, Moqtada al-Sadr is making noises like he does indeed wish to disband his militia - if ordered to do so by the nominally pro-government Ayatollah al-Sistani.First, the Sunnis, Kurds and a major...(Read Full Post)