By Andrew L. Jaffee

… such direct and public allegations are unprecedented and may indicate growing confidence on the part of the [Iraqi] authorities that they can take on the [Sadr] militia. …

Is the BBC acknowledging that the Iraqi government is starting to reign in Shiite militias? I’ll take this as good news:

Iraqi police say the powerful Mehdi Army militia has been involved in killing of hundreds of people in the mainly Shia Muslim province of Karbala.

Maj Gen Raid Shaker told a public meeting the militia of radical cleric Moqtada Sadr had brought four years of terror and anarchy causing 670 deaths.

His allegations were backed by scores of angry people attending the meeting. …