Quote Originally Posted by Odin
In this case however you have a person on the record as demanding your demise, regardless of the manner, time and place, his desire is to see you removed.
al-Sadr wants all Americans dead - no matter what? I have some serious doubts about that.

If a rabbit catches a fox in a trap, does the rabbit A. let him go in order to be hunted another day? B. does he kill the fox first and live on? Or C. does he negotiate with the fox for a settlement and hope for the best?
I would not go as far as to see al-Sadr as a fox and the US as a rabbit - I think you are flattering this guy
Apart from that your comparison is not quite correct. The fox did not get caught and then started to negotiate. The rabbit started the negotiations and tried to kill the fox when it agreed.
Would a fox agree on negotiations with the rabbit? Who will trust the rabbit in future negotiations?

You are under the misconception that you can violate the meaning of the white flag if you think it is appropriate and return ti business as usual the next day. However, a white flag only serves its purpose as long as it is always respected.