[goldstategop]

The Sunnis consider themselves the "pure" standard bearers of Islam and Arab nationalism. The Shias have been viewed in Iraq as sort of heretics and as pseudo Arabs and have been excluded for decades from a role in the national government commensurate with their actual proportion of the population.

[section9]

This is key.

I believe that the S.A.S. have probably been engaged in a program of assassinations and urban warfare. They have been in Basrah since before the war. They have waited until the proper moment. Now it has arrived.

Time for the Brits to take advantage of this. I understand that they are going in at first light.

Be Seeing You,

Chris