Elvis has Left the Nation-Building

Moqtada Al-Sadr has reportedly left Iraq for Iran due to fears of American attacks and divisions within his own Mahdi Army evidenced by recent U.S. attacks on rogue Mahdi Army elements.

What's more interesting is that he apparently left 2-3 weeks ago.

Maybe this shows that the Americans and the Shiite-led government are going to take the militias and warlords leading them seriously. That would be a lot better than reaching some kind of understanding that lets the militias run amok.

Or maybe it shows that the government tipped Sadr off and he was able to get out before being arrested. That would be the less-optimistic analysis.

Who knows. All we know is, he'll be back.