NYT: Fragmenation of Mahdi Army

"Sabrina Tavernise has an interesting front-page story in today’s New York Times (Sabrina Tavenise, “Influence Rises But Base Frays For Iraqi Cleric,” New York Times, November 13, 2006) about Muqtada al-Sadr’s current political fortunes, and the fragmentation of the Mahdi Army.

But she gets some facts wrong: “One result is a small proliferation of senior militia leaders—a coalition intelligence official said in September there were at least six—striking out on their own. One new commander is a fishmonger who goes by the name Abu Dera, meaning “man of the shield.””
Talisman Gate