“The only indigenous Shi’ite group [in Iraq] to remain implacably opposed to the occupation are the Sadrists (followers of the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr) whose military wing is called the Mahdi Army. …The Mahdi Army was created by al-Sadr in June 2003, in direct response to the American invasion.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Abdel Bari Atwan, The Secret History of al Qaeda, Pages 209-210