Demonstrators in Iraq

NYT: reports Tens of thousands of Iraqis marked the second anniversary of the fall of Saddam Hussein by marching here in the capital on Saturday to demand the withdrawal of American forces. Meanwhile, one of the most lethal insurgent groups warned Iraqis against joining the army or the police force. Most protesters were followers of Moktada al-Sadr, the rebel Shiite cleric who has led several armed uprisings against American forces but who has recently begun to take part in democratic politics.

Moktada al-Sadr must be ticked off that even though prominant Sunnis, Shias, and Kurds are getting positions in the government, he is not among them

Cori Dauber blogged Representatives of the Association of Muslim Scholars, a leading group of Sunni clerics that has expressed sympathy for the guerrilla insurgency, said its followers had taken part in the march. (My emph.)... Guerrilla movements have the support of the population. If there's anything that should be clear by now it's that this is not a popular movement. And it's not a popular movement in large part because it targets average Iraqis. This is not a spontaneous uprising that grew up out of the people, either. (via Instapundit.) This is not the act of a popular resistance movement. Not one that would stay popular for long.