Winner of the Najaf battle - Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani

The battle in Najaf seems to be over but not because of the Iraqi government as they were unable to stop it.
It was not the US forces either, as the militia was still fighting even after suffering hundreds of deaths.

The person who was able to end it was Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and he seems to be the only one who still has the support of the majority of the people after this.

They say that following this assault, the Shiite opinion of the Americans is almost universally negative.

They say that Sadr supporters tried to start a chant in support of Sadr but most of the crowd remained silent.

It appears that the only person now liked by the majority, who is able to control the people, is the Ayatollah.
One has to wonder if he or someone like him will be the future of Iraq.
It seems the only people who can control Iraq are dictators or religious leaders so the future of Iraq may well be a government either like Iran or like the old Saddam regime.

Here's an interesting article on the situation:
www.csmonitor.com...

It was always going to be this way. Local army, local minds.

AceOfBase,

You got it, that is the way it always has been in the middle eastern countries, but many in our side of the world can not comprehend that concept, the only reason this people could not get anything done during Sadam is because he had them under his feet. Now they are free to take over their tribes.

US can only dream about democracy in that country.

Originally posted by marg6043
US can only dream about democracy in that country.

Us can only dream about democracy in its own country.