'The Expected One'
Hub Blog has been noticing increasing references these days to the 'Mahdi Army' as it applies to Moktada al-Sadr's now out-of-control Iraqi militia. Hmmm. Mahdi. Where have I heard that word before? Right! From the old and largely underrated movie 'Khartoum,' whose plot summary goes like this:

English General Charles George Gordon, a devout Christian, is appointed military governor of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan by Prime Minister Gladstone. Ordered to evacuate Egyptians from the Sudan, General Gordon stays on to protect the people of Khartoum, who are under threat of being conquered by a Muslim army. His Christian faith and military command are challenged by Mohammed Ahmed el Mahdi, "the Expected One," the head of the Muslim forces.

Sound familiar? Everyone is reaching for bogus historical analogies these days, whether it's Churchill during the dark days of the Blitz or Abe during the dark days of the Cival War. But Gordon's doomed adventure in the Sudan seems more applicable to today's events. Of course, Armchair Gen. Savin Hill was wondering last year if anyone at the Pentagon had ever seen 'Lawrence of Arabia.' ... If you haven't seen 'Khartoum,' do so. The DVD only recently came out. Laurence Olivier's intense performance as the Mahdi is terrific and, well, eerily Sadr-like. ...

... FYI: Finally finished 'Fiasco.' Thumbs up. But not enthusiastic thumbs up. Maybe I'm suffering from having read previous books on the Iraq war. Still I'd advise anyone who hasn't read a book yet on Iraq to pick up 'Fiasco.' It's a great summary of all the blunders and bad assumptions that led us to where we are today.  ¶ 9:50 AM