This new wave of violence follows hard on the heels of last week´s news that US forces had joined up with Shiite police to virtually stamp out Al Queda in Iraq. I suppose this is their way of exhibiting defiance in the wake of that story.

Charles, Barcelona,

Times change - 1st gulf war and we were treated to tv pictures of smart bombs dropping down elevator shafts. Cutting edge footage of breakthroughs in military technology. Is it me or do we no seem to get the same service from the media these days?

King, Chamonix, France

Matt--In my late 60s recall reassuring comments like yours poured forth from pr organs right up until Saigon and Havana fell.

MARK KLEIN, M.D., Oakland, CALIFORNIA

From previous 60% to now almost 85% of Iraq are now shiites exactly the same as Iranians. Majority of the sunnis (Saddams people) have been killed, cleansed or driven out of Iraq. There is absolutely nothing anyone can do to stop Iran from fully controlling Iraq by proxy. Bush has given Iraq to Iran on a sliver plate. Thats why Mr Ahmadinejad is always smiling. The only option left for U.S & buddies is to pull their troops out now. Just cut&run, the Iraq was lost when 'wmd' wernt found. Most of the world are against this unnecessary war.

jayil, london, uk

Sorry Dr. Klein, that's not what it's like at all. In those situations the attackers actually posed a threat to the established government. Jaish al-Mahdi sounds impressive, but they're an irregular militia like all the rest, just with more people. The Iraqi army actually outnumbers them in Basra at this point (by some estimations I've seen) and they are better trained and better equipped. The IA's first attack might have stalled out, but so did the first assault on Fallujah by the USMC and 82nd. JAM can't hope to hold out more than a week against the IA, and they know that their only hope is that al-Sadr can broker a deal with SCIRI, the Government, the Americans and the British (if you all do wind up becoming involved at some point) before then. All of their rhetoric about taking over Baghdad and Nasariyah, etc. can't really be backed up. In most cases, they were already in these towns and neighborhoods to begin with, and the only difference is now they're standing around in evidence

Matt, Chicago, IL

Starting to look in Iraq like the fall of Saigon to the VC or Batista's Havana to Castro's forces.

MARK KLEIN, M.D., Oakland, CALIFORNIA

The British have become the new Vichy French. That is how low this nation has fallen.

Eve Ventura, Nottingham, UK

Withdrawing British troops now would be a complete disaster for Iraq and for Britain and would hand victory to Al Qaeda and to Iran. To think that Al Qaeda, Iran and other extreme Islamic groups would not exploit and capitalise on Britain's failure is utterly naive.

What grates for me is this is Britain’s failure, not America’s. I served in Basra in 2003/4 on the Divisional Staff. Junior officers at that time warned their superiors of Iranian and Shia militia infiltration into the police and of their gradual take-over of the city. This was ignored by our superiors as it was a problem too difficult to deal with. It was known that if we dealt with it we would take casualties; senior officers hoped that by ignoring the problem we would be able to withdraw before it became a significant factor. This merely put off the problem and it has now grown into an ogre that threatens the whole stability of Iraq and in the long run has probably resulted in more British deaths.

HC, London,

Incidentally, Iraqi troops are known as ‘Jindis’, not ‘Jundis’ as Jindi is the Arabic word for soldier.

HC, London,

Daphne of that famous old university town of Cambridge UK.

Keep drinking the Kool-Aid!

David. B. Monier-Williams, Scottsdale, US Arizona

I am not sure if the Brits would like to have their "fortified" base be subjected to the daily mortar fire that is creating havoc in the green zone in Bagdad. Well, that;s what may happen if they join the ongoing fight in Basra. Think about it befoore it gets too late.

John, CHICAGO, USA

The New Iraqi army has to be tested in battle at some point, better now with the Birtish Army still there. Civil wars are real hell for occupying forces, you never sure how it is going to end. I mean finally end (think Vietnam). You can't kill dreams and which ever side in Iraqi has the greater dream right or wrong will in the end come out on top. I only want one thing, to have as few British troops harmed before we can get them back home.

JFortin, Ely, UK

Mr Graziano, perhaps you have not been keeping up with current events but there is no such thing as the British, any more. Speaking of my own nation, the English we are near passed tipping point where we will be a nation no longer.
This is what has happened to Britain, massive population transfer. Internationalists like Tony Blair. The imposition of "multicultural values" determined by globalists.
As for Iraq, our forces might as well be wearinga company logo as the Union flag. That is Neo conservatism for you. It is a destyroyer of nations. These Middle East wars are not in British interests.
The PNAC designed this war, and they desire for Syria and Iran to be next. If this is given to these vile people, I suggest they and they children to be drafted. I wonder what flag these people such as Elliot Abrahms, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Pearl and so forth, will wear.
My son is in Basra.

Kay Johnson, London, England

Andy, as a student of history, you know that the USA had strong elements of isolationism and non-intervention in its character, from its birth up to WW II. The fact is that the US did intervene-twice. Also, since WW II, the US has changed. Do you think that if Britain were threatened now, that it would wait 2 or 3 yrs to help? No, it would probably take 2 or 3 days (or hours) before we helped you, as we should.

I would like to believe that America and Great Britain would continue to be brother-nations, joined at the hip, in a special relationship, for as long as humans walk the Earth. We each enrich the other in countless ways. Together, we are so much greater than what each can be separately.

And, with our other friends and allies, we can try to continue to advance the quality of life for all peoples on this planet.

Tom Graziano, Cincinnati, USA

When are the architects of the Iraq disaster - Blair, Brown, Campbell, Hoon, Goldsmith et al - going to meet justice? Their arrogance and ignorance - always a lethal combination - has led us to this appalling mess. Hundreds of thousands have lost their lives in this misadventure. Instead of rotting in a prison cell or facing the "justice" meted out to Saddam Hussein, Blair racks up million pound consultancy fees and lives under taxpayer-funded armed guard in London W2. And while I'm on the subject their attack dogs in the UK press - Aaronovich, Phillips, Gove, Kamm - continue blithely on, still employed. Although we can never undo the damage caused to the Iraqi people we can at least start making these people face the consequences of their actions.

Paul Amery, London,

Not everyone in England feels the way Ms kenwood does. I personally believe that engaging the enemy as far away from our home territory makes sense, also I also feel a greater sense of loyalty to the new world ex-colonies of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand than I do to any old world 'civilization'.
Most Brits who feel this way are voting with their feet and emigrating to the afore mentioned nations. The British spirit isnt dead, its just been exported by our patriots who cant bear to be treated as criminals in the land their grandparents died to protect.

Andy, York,

I seem to remember that WW1 started in 1914, but the US started defending "British" freedoms in 1917. Likewise when we kicked off for round two in 1939, the US was also similarly absent. The fact is that in both instances only when US freedoms and interests were directly attacked did it enter either war as a combatant.

Similarly are we now going to forget the reasons for going to war in Iraq, and say that it's now all about democratic values? Or that Al Qaeda in Iraq didn't exist before the war and that the war has increased the global risk of terrorism as a result? Or are these issues just too uncomfortable?

As a Briton I am eternally grateful for the sacrifice of the US in both world wars. But the real battle against terrorism and the preservation of western civilisation is being fought in Afghanistan. Suffice it to say I am extremely proud of the role of British forces fighting there. It is not a battle we can morally leave the US alone to fight, nor shall we.

Andy, London, UK

If this anarchy doesn't end then the Iraq project will miserably fail, with the Iranian controlling the oil rich city of Basra. It seems that the British army miscalculated the vacuum they have left behind.

H.Marph , London,

Nothing has changed with the British people Mr Graziano,except that where we once had leaders we now have only politicians.

robert everitt, wolverhampton,

Britain is no longer a major power. Mr. Kenward, relax. We don't expect your help. America will save western civilization.

John Howard, mesa/AZ, usa

They should not have retreated in the first place

I.Kemp, Nahariya, Israel

You know, my family has sacrificed a lot in defense of freedom and western democracy.
My Grandfather had scarred lungs from poison gas in WW I, while fighting in France defending British freedoms. When i was a boy, I visited him in a Veterans Hospital, where he spent most of his adult life. I saw hundreds of old soldiers missing limbs, staring into space sitting on benches, etc.

My Father and 3 Uncles fought in WW II, all over the world, again defending, the Western Democracies. Thankfully, none were hurt, except my Father didn't like to talk about it, until right before he died, when he told me everything. I've always been proud of these efforts that created the modern societies that you live in today, and never had any regrets of what Fate required.

But it is very sad to me to see what the great British spirit has degenerated to in some people. I do truly hope there is enough backbone and wisdom left to pass on to the next generations, and the challenges that they will face.

Tom Graziano, Cincinnati, USA

All British Troops need to be home NOW!. THE WAR IS ILLEGAL. Not a single member of new Labour would lose a finger defending Iraq, let alone their life. America wanted a War let them have it, those Criminals deserve exactly what they got, a War with no end, why the British people have risked a Recession and their house prices drop, to be a party to a bunch of homicidal maniacs. We have our own crosses to bear. Its time some one told those American idiots we want nothing to do with them, we are paying a lot of money into being a member of the European Union. America is a has been Country, and has worn out the patience of the entire world. We have lost too many lives in way of our service men and Women in this pointless cause, and If New Labour want the People of the United Kingdom to vote for them they had better get our Troops out of harms way. Leave the Dumb Ass Americans to stew in their own juice.

Daphne Kenward, Cambrifge, UK

Is that the same Fred Kagan who said on Monday "the civil war in Iraq is over"? How many times does someone have to be wrong before you stop asking for their opinion?

Ed Byrne, Vancouver, Canada