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S66*MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
the mosque attached to the shrine ofImam Husayn. They have separated their congregation
from the one led by Sistani's appointee. Their antagonism to these other groups
is in part rooted in their attempt to monopolize sacred space in Iraq.
Can the Sadrists maintain their political momentum? Ifthe Defense Department
scenario comes to fruition, and Iraq holds relatively free and fair elections~ in late
2004 or early 2005, the Sadr Movement's political" power may be diluted in a new
Iraqi parliament that. they cannot hope to· dominate. Assuming they agree to field
~andidates, they could only hope to play in it the sort ofrole that the Lebanese Hizbullah
does in the Lebanese parliament, where the radical party is often forced to cooperate
with the Maronite Christians and other forces .. If, on the other hand, Iraq begins to
collapse into insecurity and angry urban crowds seek an early exit ofCoalition forces,
the Sadr Movement networks and militias will stand them in good stead in asserting
power in East Baghdad and the south. It seems clear that the future of Iraq is intimately
wrought up with the fortunes of the Sadr Movement.
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