AL-HASHASHIN &c

Whoa, most people assumed Muqtada was getting some kind of support from Iran, but this is, ah, interesting (via Iraq the Model):

Coalition troops have seized $30 million worth of heroin intended for sale on Iraqi streets by rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's militia, the former commander of the 9,000-strong Polish force in south-central Iraq says.

Lt. Gen. Mieczyslav Bieniek said the militia was using the drug profits "to pay for action" against coalition forces and that some members of the Mahdi's Army were "under the influence [while] fighting us."

The Polish commander was in Washington last week and said that the heroin trade was so pervasive that militia members were known as the "pink army" — named after the red plastic bags they use to peddle the drugs.

Now, where would Muqtada get $30 million in heroin? Afghanistan produces about 3/4ths of the world supply, and the trade route goes right through Iran. While Afghan jihadis could certainly bring some themselves, it certainly seems likely that such a major supply might involve Muqtada's Iranian advisors. Cool historical analogy, at any rate, from Omar @ the Model:

Hashish or drugs in general were used before by some religious groups to make their followers believe whatever they want them to, and it seems that the “Assassins” or “Al-Hashashin” were the 1st to use it. The story is that one of those 'religious' guys back near the end of the Abbasseen era who lived in northern Iran managed to create a legion of fanatic killers by using Hashish. His assistants used to give Hashish to one of those poor men he would chose, and they were mainly poor simple men, and then after they lose consciousness or detach from reality, his men would take the poor man to their master’s castle which was reported to be a very beautiful place built over an enchanting piece of nature and in which one could find some really beautiful women. So when the poor lad awaken he sees himself in this peace of heaven and would be told that he actually is in heaven for a short time and in order to stay there he has to go back to earth and kill someone, usually a political figure.

In this way the leader of the “Assassins” managed to acquire a great effect in the political field by threatining his rivals with death, relying on a group of fanatic ignorant drugged men, in most of Iran for nearly 200 years and it seems that history is repeating itself here. Many Iraqis were already aware of the fact that the “Mehdi Army” was using and trading with drugs but this should get more coverage so that more Iraqis as well as Arabs and people everywhere in the world get to know the reality of these thugs whom the major media still insist to call them “legitimate resistance”!