Fate of Iraq’s ’last-chance’ government hangs on Basra

The recent summer protests in Basra were more intense than in the past and are a wake-up call for the Baghdad authorities

The alarming level of violence in southern Iraq's cities shook the foundations of the state. Unlike in previous years, this mood of unrest isn't something that will fade, now that the Iraqi summer inferno has passed. The issue is serious. Iraq simply can't afford to lose control of Basra, its main oil-producing and exporting region. At stake is the beating heart of the nation's economy and the petrodollars needed for reconstruction. As the saying goes here, "the rise of Iraq or the failure of Iraq, is underpinned by Basra". The protests can't be wished away with promises to quickly fix electricity problems or create more jobs. To rational observers, it feels like something has truly br