If Sadr rings bell, he should get a banana (metaphorically speaking)

So some fairly good news has just come out of Iraq. Moqtada al-Sadr has ordered his militia to stop fighting and cooperate with the Iraqi government (at least for now).

Don't know who Moqtada al-Sadr is? Well I'll ya. Mr. Sadr is a Shi'a cleric who dabbles in the bad kind of religious radicalism. Maybe a bit more than dabble, but I say dabble because while his army does engage in sectarian violence and violence against American soldiers, he is also responsible for providing public services in his Shi'a community where there had been none. Said militia is called "The Mehdi Army. The BBC describes him as being a fairly well liked guy among the impoverished Shi'a and other Iraqis who see him as figure of resistance against foreign invaders.

Now if he tells his crew to lay off with the fighting, I say that's a good sign. He may not be a good guy, but he obviously has enough influence amongst the majority Shia in Iraq to be a tool of good. Sometimes in conflict resolution its not practical to exclude such militias and their leaders. To ensure a lasting peace, all parties must be brought to the negotiating table and must be negotiated with. This does not mean their offenses go unexcused, but in such cases, punishment can perpetuate conflicts. The offenses must be addressed however, and grievances must be listened to. After grievances are heard, the possibility of repentance and forgiveness is open. Its a hard thing to make happen, but it is the best, and really only, way to make a real and lasting peace.

The international community should recognize and praise Mr. Sadr's decision to put forth this order. As Pavlov taught us, subjects respond to positive reinforcement.

I may come to regret the comparison of international peacebuilding to the behavior of lab rats and/or dogs, but I still think positive reinforcement can go a long in way in lessening the self-perception of persecution and being antagonized that groups like the Mehdi Army use as justification for violence.