CIAO DATE: 09/2008
April 2008
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
The recent military offensive in Basra was the first sizeable operation in which Iraqi government forces took the initiative to pursue armed groups in one of the country's most politically charged regions. Although the operation was a military success, its political aftermath will be crucial for the survival of both Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government and Muqtada al-Sadr's militia.
Resource link: PolicyWatch #1361: Who Won the Battle for Basra? [PDF] - 13K