Basra: testing to destruction
So, it’s all kicking off…
Heavy fighting has erupted in Iraq’s southern city of Basra between Iraqi security forces and members of the Mehdi Army, a Shia militia.
Despite there being 4,000 tooled-up British soldiers sitting around just down the road at the airport, they’re sitting tight:
A British military spokesman said the operation was being directed by Iraqi forces and that UK troops, now based at Basra airport, were not involved.
This ‘overwatch’ role we’ve taken offers two benefits. It gives the newly-trained Iraqi army the ultimate in on the job training. It also allows us to observe just how effective our training methods are: if the Iraqi army takes a hiding, well, procedures will just have to be tightened.
This has me foxed, however:
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is reported to be overseeing the operation. On Monday he said the central government had decided to “re-impose security, stability and law” in the oil-rich city.
Hang about, didn’t the British do that already?
Posted on March 25th, 2008 at 8:46 am
| See also • Get out or die • Iraqi Employees - still dying • Bugger Basra |
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[...] were in danger of horrible death on a daily basis), it’s all kicking off, apparently (via Chicken Yoghurt). This could be very good news, as it does appear to be an Iraqi government operation carried out [...]
…and Sadr seems to have given the green light for ‘civil revolt’:
“We call upon all Iraqis to stage sit-ins all over Iraq as a first step,” Sadr said in a statement. “And if the people’s demands are not respected by the Iraqi government, the second step will be to declare civil revolt in Baghdad and all other provinces.”
The cleric also threatened a “third step” but did not give details. The statement suggested he could be considering ending a Mahdi Army ceasefire that began in August.
The ceasefire in August had a number of reasons, one apparently being to enable Sadr to cram for his ayatollah exams, which have been fast-tracked for such a young man. This title will increase his cachet when it comes to the general elections due 2009, and the local elections, possibly as early as October this year.
Sadr admitted recently he has been weakened by his low profile. declaring for civil revolt is to show he’s still a player to be reckoned with.