Moktada al-Sadr

WASHINGTON—Carl Levin just asked General David Petraeus about whether Nuri Kamal al-Maliki followed his advice in preparing military action against loyalists to Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr in his stronghold, Basra.

“I would not, no sir,” said Petraeus. When pressed, the general added, “It was not adequately planned or prepared.”