Iraqi militiamen dealt a colossal blow to the Maliki government in Basra

By Bill Van Auken  To what extent will we know the true behind the carnage that took place last week in the Iraqi southern city of Basra? God only knows. But the outcome is clear: Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraki prime minister, had to swallow a humiliating...

Britain’s handover of Basra exposes its sharp disagreement with the U.S.

By Chris MarsdenBritain’s has completed evacuating its 550 troops from Basra Palace and announced that Basra itself will be handed over to Iraqi control “in the autumn”. Basra is the last of five provinces in southern Iraq to be handed over to the...

A fallen soldier’s final words of love

By Russell JenkinsBEFORE Gunner Lee Thornton went to war he poured out his love for his fiancée in a letter that he hoped she would never have to read.The 22-year-old soldier had left instructions with his “soulmate”, a 21-year-old student, that...