"Take the decision in early March to arrest Muqtada al-Sadr. It was made apparently without knowledge or understanding of the nature of his movement or how widespread it is"

In this quote, Juan Cole is criticizing the decision made in early March to arrest Muqtada al-Sadr. He suggests that the choice was made without proper knowledge or understanding of the nature of al-Sadr's motion and its widespread influence. This suggests that the decision was made hastily and without considering the possible consequences. Cole may be suggesting that the choice was made without proper research or analysis, which might have led to a problematic and ineffective method. Overall, the quote highlights the value of comprehending the context and impact of a choice before doing something about it.