State has 'melted', leaving Basra in chaos

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/02/news/basra.php

BASRA, Iraq The message in the Shiite newspaper was perfectly clear: Watching soccer is a dangerous distraction. It leads to celebrating in the street, listening to music, waving flags and seeing scantily clad female fans - all forbidden.

Fadhila, one of the many religious Shiite political parties that proliferate in this southern city, was handing out copies at Basra University.

Iraqi leaders have called on the army to halt this once-quiet southern city's slide into chaos. But the problems run far deeper than tanks and machine guns can reach.

They begin in Basra's institutions, where political parties have taken root, forming morals patrols in the halls of Basra University, moving into the flimsy police force and controlling the guard force that protects the important sites at the state oil company.

"We're into political porridge," said Brigadier James Everard, commander of the British forces that patrol southern Iraq. "It's mafia-type politics down here."

More...

Just another reason for the chimp to leave the troops in Iraq indefinitely, all protestations to the opposite duly noted. This was the plan from the get-go. Welcome to Iraq -- Permanent US Oil Colony

Please?

Everyone knows the war has ended.

Just ask Bush - he'll tell you.

" It leads to celebrating in the street, listening to music, waving flags and seeing scantily clad female fans - all forbidden"

This is the "Freedom" the right wing is so proud that we brought to Iraq????

neocon 'nation building' :eyes: :puke: