Freedom

Another word for doing idiotic things as a result of politics! PM Maliki has asked the US/Iraqi Army to stop the blockade of Sadr City and he sounds surprised that his request carried any clout. I suspect his handlers said he had to make the request to keep his position but he never expected it to really happen.
From a person living there:

"Who is the Mahdi Army to decide the future of my daughter and stop the movement of life in the country? Does the government have no power?" demanded Duniya Hilmi, 34, a city government worker whose daughter had been sent home from school by the Mahdi Army on Tuesday.

The Mahdi Army called a general strike in the city to pressure Maliki to oust the Americans. Did the citizens do so? Sure. After being threatened by these lowlifes.

The militiamen stopped one worker, Sameer Kadhumi, as he walked to his job at the Culture Ministry. "They told me not to go to work, otherwise I will be in trouble," Kadhumi said.

Yes the Mahdi Army is cashing in their chits with Mr. Maliki. And guess what, he's free to do this. Yes - that's how liberty works. Mr. Kadhumi actually chose to fake running an errand and made his way to work only to find the business closed. Good for Mr. Kadhumi.
This is what continues to give me hope about Iraq. Iraqis just want to live normal lives without threats. They want to go to work. The more they see that they have the freedom to choose what kind of govt they will live under, the better off they will be.