This is an update, published on Aug. 11, of a backgrounder I first did for CTV News Online back in early April, during the first Moqtada al-Sadr-led uprising.

The situation on the ground has changed. The U.S. appears to be ready for heavy combat in Najaf with an eye towards crushing the Mehdi Army -- and, one wonders, towards offing al-Sadr himself. Here's the first few grafs and a link:

Moqtada al-Sadr

Bill Doskoch, CTV.ca News Staff

As U.S. troops appear set for an all-out offensive on Najaf, the question becomes whether this battle is meant to be the end-game in the coalition's conflict with Shiite religious leader Moqtada al-Sadr.

"Iraqi and U.S. forces are making final preparations as we get ready to finish this fight that the Moqtada militia started," Col. Anthony Haslam, commanding officer of the U.S.'s 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Najaf, told Reuters in a statement on Aug. 11.

FULL STORY: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1081260387228_13/?hub=TopStories

I'd be interested in hearing some opinions on what people think U.S. strategy is in Najaf and with respects to al-Sadr in particular.