When it comes to intramural warfare it’s an Arab tradition to ‘do a deal’ rather than settle things. Don’t be surprised if Maliki tip toes right up to the point of total victory in Basra only to back-off at the last minute. He is Shia, after all, and one would presume that he wouldn’t want to weaken that base to the point where his Sunni rivals could kick him out in a Coup.
....maybe Maliki doing what's right will finally start to calm the Hatfield-McCoy mentality of that region that's been going on for hundreds of years.