Yet another classified document has been leaked to and printed by the New York Times that will compromise this nation’s national security.  U.S. National Security Advisor Steven Hadley traveled to Iraq and talked with Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al-Malaki on October 30, 2006.  Upon Hadley’s return visit, he wrote a classified memo on his assessment of Malaki and what the United States should do to help shift the momentum inside Iraq.

The report, filed on November 8, questions Malaki’s connections to Shia insurgent groups, mainly the Mahdi Army and its leader Muqtada al Sadr.

“His intentions seem good when he talks with Americans, and sensitive reporting suggests he is trying to stand up to the Shia hierarchy and force positive change,” the memo said of the Iraqi leader. “But the reality on the streets of Baghdad suggests Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on, misrepresenting his intentions, or that his capabilities are not yet sufficient to turn his good intentions into action.”

The timing of this leak is unquestionably aimed at altering the planned talks between Bush, Malaki and the Jordanian King Abdullah.  And just as one would imagine, contrary to what the NYT reports, the memo seems to have had an effect after Malaki canceled his meeting with Bush.  The meeting was set out to determine what course of action is best for Iraq and help pave a new path for the two nations to take in a shared goal.

Well, there’s the memo, but then there’s also the actions of Muqtada al Sadr ahead of the planned meeting.  Sadr, who essentially controls up to 30 members of the Iraq Parliament, called upon his parliamentarians to withdraw from the Iraqi government in protest of this meeting.  Five cabinet members also temporarily left the government.

In a statement released to the press regarding why the 35 men stepped down, the group said the meeting was a “provocation to the feelings of the Iraqi people and a violation of their constitutional rights.”  I had not realized talking to dignitaries of other nations was against the constitution of any nation, but I can’t help but wonder if pressure from Sadr is yet another reason Malaki decided not to meet with Bush.

Sadr not only controls one of the key insurgent groups in Iraq responsible for the death of numerous Iraqi civilians, he also controls a key voting block within Iraq and has seemingly gained more power than Ayatollah Sistani who previously was called the leader of Iraqi Shia.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Muqtada al Sadr should have been taken out three years ago, but it’s not too late.  He is a stooge of the Iranian government and he has worrisome ties with Malaki as the Hadley document states.  But it didn’t take a classified document to note these connections nor that Malaki may be in over his head.  What can be done to strengthen Malaki’s hand and force him not to play politics is crucial.  Can he do it?

Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator linked with Before diplomacy, more doubt...