Like Hizballah, the Mahdi Army will retain its military wing so long as the state cannot ensure security. That will guarantee that Iraq does not become a safe haven for Al-Qaeda, which is no match for the Mahdi Army.
If doubts remained as to the extent that last month's rigged Iranian elections were boycotted by Iranian citizens, they were put to rest Tuesday, March 16.
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage recently referred to Iran as a "sort of democracy.