[Pistolshot]

.....country's prime minister leave Basra where he is overseeing a military operation....

You folks have missed THE most important part of this story.

Nouri al-Maliki is Shi'ite also.

This is about law and order, and the Iraqi government instituting it. It's not about Sunni or Shi'ite, or Kurd. This battle will determine where stability in Iraq will head, into chaos, or representative government.

The most important part of this story, is the Iraqi Army is doing all the fighting.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Updates :

Iraq's Maliki says will fight militia "to the end" ( Showdown in Basra)