Lately, several Shiite neighborhoods in Iraq have begun to distance themselves from the Mahdi Army, which happens to be made up of Shiite militants. These Shiite militants have begun to turn on their own while looking for new sources of income. The Mahdi Army is turning into a "band of street thugs without ideology." Although many Shiites originally depended on the Shiites to defend them against Sunnis, Shiites civilians want the militants out of the neighborhoods.
I know the issue of whether or not the U.S. government should pull troops out of Iraq has been brought up a lot. But if Shiites don't even get along with other Shiites, how is the American presence in Iraq helping? Is it ever going to be possible for the U.S. to stop the violence. I don't think so.
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Yes, it does seem quite hopeless when people like the Shiites turn so quickly to violence as a resolution to their problems. I think the Iraqis still don't realize that there are now legal processes to get things they want them to be - through democratic compromise. In a place where violence is accepted as the norm, it could take centuries to undo a mentality almost as ingrained in their culture as their religion.
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