No a good sign. The british occupy southern iraq, around Basra, where there has been less opposition to the invasion. The reason for this, is that Shia militia effectively control the area - the british are tolerated because the militia is really in control. The police are controlled by the militia. In other words, the central gov isnt in control of this part of Iraq, the british troops arent "enforcing" anything. The Shia are alligned with Iran, and Iran has poored arms into southern iraq to support the shia militia. But Tony Blair didnt do well in the the british elections, and it was in large part due to his support of the iraq war. I think the militia in basra figured out that Blair is weakened, and maybe now is the time to put the hammer on the british troops, who really arent in control of anything to begin with. The press doesnt report this - no real analysis behind the news. So what happens if the british leave? Nothing, other than the militia will continue to be in control, and the central government will not have legitimacy in southern Iraq. There is only the illusion of "Iraqi Government" legitimacy now in southern iraq. There is a de facto division of Iraq, with Kurds controlling the north, shia militia controlling the south, and the US army/marines trying to shore up the central gov by battling the sunni insurgents.
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