Al-Maliki can't allow al-Sadr to be taken out and maintain control. Al-Sadr's voting block is what allows al-Maliki to hold onto his job. If he loses al-Sadr's supporters, he loses his job (and probably his life). To say nothing of the apparent infiltration of the police forces (the guys our President wants to rely on) by al-Sadr's people. Even if al-Maliki is willing to confront al-Sadr, he hasn't got the ability to do it with the current system of government. And if he doesn't remove al-Sadr, there's no way he can stop the sectarian violence because his efforts won't have legitimacy with the Sunnis or us.

This plan is inherently flawed.