Al-Sadr - Just Won't Go Away

Westhawk has a post about  Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army's latest clash with the Iraqi forces.  Al-Sadr has been a problem since Bremer was in Iraq.  In his book, My Year in Iraq,  Bremer states that he consistently pushed for Al-Sadr's arrest but this was resisted for various reasons by various factions (from Al Sistani to the Marines).  It appeared that Al-Sadr had been contained and somewhat nuetralized by the Marines after his last uprising.  I am wondering if his new burst of energy is a result of a vacuum of power being created by the weakening of Al Queda in Iraq.  If the recent reports are correct and Al Queda has been taking some good licks since the killing of Zarquawi someone is going to step into the void.  May be far fetched but the fight may now be down to two - the Iran supported insurgency and the Iraq Government.  My money is on the government because Al-Sadr seems to be little more than a thug. Al-Sadr should not go away mad - he should just go away!