The Maliki Move Stalls in Basra
Yesterday, the Pentagon indicated the Maliki-directed assault on Mahdi fighters proved the surge was working, because Iraq forces were prepared to take on the rebels controlling Basra. The 72 hour ultimatum’s not up yet, but midway, the odds of success have slipped quite a bit.
And WaPo offers this:
One of the main oil pipelines near the city, a key shipping hub to the Persian Gulf, was reportedly on fire after an explosion. Crude oil prices spiked back above $106 a barrel in response.


