Iraq Fighting Post Mortem (Sort Of)

First, we have the revelation that the news cease fire was brokered by Iranian General Qassem Suleimani, who is on a US terrorism watch list for, "alleged involvement in terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear and missile technology.

When the going gets tough, our allies the Hakim family run to Iran for help. Nice.

The reports of NY Times reporter is particularly instructive, "The common observation was this: There was nowhere the Mahdi either did not control or could not strike at will. Maliki and the Hakims lost, and they lost big.

The reason for the qualifier in the title is that elements of the Mahdi Army are claiming that the government is breaking the cease fire. Hopefully, this is simply a temporary artifact of a new cease fire.