The state of Naomi Klein

In today's Guardian (and in The Nation), Naomi Klein is calling for Najaf to be brought to New York. She means this in the sense of calling for demonstrations against the war, 'in the streets outside the Republican national convention'. She also means it in a sense which identifies Moqtada al-Sadr and his supporters with the generality of Iraqi opinion:

Moqtada al-Sadr and his followers are not just another group of generic terrorists out to kill Americans: their opposition to the occupation represents the overwhelmingly mainstream sentiment in Iraq. Yes, if elected, Sadr would try to turn Iraq into a theocracy like Iran, but for now his demands are for direct elections and an end to foreign occupation.

The Guardian itself - even the Guardian - reports opinion towards Moqtada al-Sadr rather more divided than this. But not to worry. Klein's willing to cut him some slack. He's only a theocrat, after all, who wants to turn Iraq into a theocracy like Iran; he's not of the Republican Party. Anyway, Klein's own commitment to democracy isn't in doubt. She writes:

We also need to hear specific demands to end the disastrous siege on Najaf, and unequivocal support for Iraqis who are desperate for democracy and an end to occupation.

That's unequivocal support for them (the Iraqis desperate for democracy) now - after the war which Klein opposed and still opposes, and without which the main obstacle to democracy in Iraq would still be in place. The state of the left.