Not involving non-Iraqis in the decision caused some problems, but as an Iraqi and Shia leader's decision it appeared to have it's purposes. Which is apparently why the lefty MSM hasn't made too much of it (no use confusing anti-war headlines with the facts).
Did the Iraqi Army and police bungle some things? Yup ... and your point is? They performed above expectations. They lost fewer desertions to Mookie than people would have thought. They fought, died and killed Shia militia. The people of Basra supported the Iraqi Army. This success emboldens Iraqi government supporters in places like Sadr City, Najaf and Karbala, where Mookie has his Mahdi Army.
Big success, congrats to the Iraqi Army, Maliki and the American Armed Forces, who made this all possible.