I have noticed that once an actor wins an Academy Award, every time they are introduced, their name takes on the prefix of "Academy award winner" so and so. Win one award, and this seems to stick permanently. Whether its on talk shows, movie trailers or on the news, this almost always seems to be the case. Its like getting a doctorate after which you are permanently "Dr." so and so.
To me, there seems to be a parallel between naming Academy award winners and Muqtada Al Sadr. Every time Al Sadr is mentioned, his name is preceded by "radical Shia cleric". This seems to have become his permanent prefix, just like Academy award winners have theirs. I'm sure no one disputes the fact that winning an academy award is a prestigious thing, just like no one (at least, no one in the "Coalition of the willing") disputes the claim that Muqtada Al Sadr is bad.
The thing is, whether you won an academy award or are a radical Shia cleric, that seems to define the person, which clearly is not the case. Academy award winners, and radical Shia clerics are much more than just that, and I think it is important to understand that. Just like winning an Academy award is a journey, becoming a radical Shia cleric is too, and I'm sure both categories of people have worked hard to get there. Furthermore, just like winning academy awards carries prestige in America, so does I'm sure reaching the status of "radical Shia cleric" in Iraq. The fact that he is considered "radical" would mean nothing to a man on the street in Iraq, just like "Academy award winner" would mean nothing. He is seen to be fighting the US occupation and that makes him a hero and idol, just like an academy award winner might be in America.
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