Armed with a master's in social work, Morris Shechtman specializes in "human capital development, " a term the L.A.-based counselor uses to describe his brand of therapy.

FORBES: Californians Screamin'

The centre-left Social Democrats say the current make-up of the armed forces does not work for the 21st Century, arguing that a professional army is needed to work more effectively with other European armies.

BBC: Austrians vote to keep compulsory military service

There is some confusion among Sadrist clerics on whether the army will actually be an armed militia, or just a new name for the volunteer cadres who have been carrying out social and religious work over the past three months (as well as, reportedly, smashing up shops selling alcohol and streetfighting with rival factions).

ECONOMIST: Iraq's Sadrist opposition