Anarchy in Basra
I am extremely worried about what's going on in Basra. Looting is rampant and the British troops don't seem to be attempting to intervene or do anything by way of policing. I hope this is not a sign of things to come. If it is, what we're going to see is complete and utter chaos and anarchy. If it is, my post of yesterday, which I felt was overly pessimistic, may actually have been overly optimistic. These people have lived under Saddam for three decades. Before that the state was also very strong. Like most people in this part of the world, they are used to being forced to behave themselves. British soldiers smiling politely and putting on their funny hats is just not good enough. This can't be how they ran the Empire.

If the coalition forces continue to be so ineffective in their policing of the civilian population, the bloody power struggle will take place under their very noses. The bodies will start piling up. Revenge hasn't even begun. The danger to Iraq, and even to the physical well being of coalition soldiers themselves, could be very great.

I hear the British are going to use a local tribal chief to police. Oy vey. I don't envy the rival tribes.