We shouldn't get too optimistic:
There is a real danger that Maliki will fall prey to his new found (over)confidence and push the Sadrist movement into a corner. A two-pronged plan might be in the works. Part one would be to arrest large numbers of Sadrists in Sadr City instead of doing discriminate raids against extremist cells. Part two would be a renewed effort to preclude Sadrists from the provincial elections unless JAM is completely disbanded, or take other measures to decisively tilt the electoral playing field against the Sadr Trend. If Sadr and his movement are near defeat, these steps might be the nail in their coffin. But they don't seem near defeat--they seem wounded. And wounded, cornered animals lash out.