Official Iraqi election results have placed Muqtada Al-Sadr, the volatile Shiite cleric, in the position of kingmaker — a remarkable comeback for a man who once sent his militia fighters into battle with US soldiers.
Since his time fighting the US, Al-Sadr has reinvented himself as a leader willing to campaign against corrupt government and is opposed to Iranian influence in Iraq’s affairs.
This book by Patrick Cockburn offers an insight into how Al-Sadr positioned himself during the years after the US-led invasion of Iraq and the downfall of Saddam Hussein, and examines why he is so pivotal to the future of the country.
Al-Sadr is revealed as a complex character and sophisticated politician.
As he sets about deciding who will form the next government, this maverick figure’s difficult, bloody and at times tragic past makes compelling reading.Â
