This is being propagandized as a "crisis", that the "U.S.led Iraqi puppet regime" is strong arming the valiant warriors of the Mahdi army who just want a political voice.
The AP stinks.
This isn't a crisis, this is a critical operation by the Iraqi government to assert control over Basra, break the militia Mahdi army, interdict Iranian infiltration, prove the training of the security forces and move the U.S. one day closer to getting out of there.
Well said.
I wish you worked for the AP.