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On the streets of Basra On the streets of Basra
(2 days later)
John Humphrys in BasraJohn Humphrys in Basra
There are still more than 4,000 British troops in Basra, but what is security like? Two years after his first visit, John Humphrys reports from the streets of the Iraqi city.There are still more than 4,000 British troops in Basra, but what is security like? Two years after his first visit, John Humphrys reports from the streets of the Iraqi city.
Two things strike you when you come back to Basra after a couple of years. Two things that have not happened.Two things strike you when you come back to Basra after a couple of years. Two things that have not happened.
The most obvious by a mile is that I haven't heard a shot fired in anger.The most obvious by a mile is that I haven't heard a shot fired in anger.
The last time I was here the Basra palace where I stayed was rocketed about 40 times in two days.The last time I was here the Basra palace where I stayed was rocketed about 40 times in two days.
The militias haven't necessarily been defeated. They've just disappeared
The British pulled out because in the end it was too dangerous to stay. And now they are all (soldiers and foreign office staff) based outside the city at the air station.The British pulled out because in the end it was too dangerous to stay. And now they are all (soldiers and foreign office staff) based outside the city at the air station.
The attacks have more or less stopped because of the so-called "charge of the knights" - a military operation involving thousands of Iraqi troops with American support that drove out the militias. It's still not possible for someone like me to wander around the streets of Basra without a massive military escort, it's not allowed.The attacks have more or less stopped because of the so-called "charge of the knights" - a military operation involving thousands of Iraqi troops with American support that drove out the militias. It's still not possible for someone like me to wander around the streets of Basra without a massive military escort, it's not allowed.
Working with the IraqisWorking with the Iraqis
But all the local people I've talked to over the past few days say the same: life is getting back to normal. But what's normal?But all the local people I've talked to over the past few days say the same: life is getting back to normal. But what's normal?
That takes us to the second thing that hasn't happened here: reconstruction.That takes us to the second thing that hasn't happened here: reconstruction.
This is potentially a vastly rich province. Oil rich. But you'd never guess it. This is potentially a vastly rich province. Oil rich. But you'd never guess it. Raw sewage still runs in the streets of Basra and you're lucky to get electricity for more than a couple of hours at a time. Unemployment is 80%. That's eight zero. And everyone knows that that is the real crisis here now.
Raw sewage still runs in the streets of Basra and you're lucky to get electricity for more than a couple of hours at a time. Unemployment is 80%. That's eight zero. And everyone knows that that is the real crisis here now.
The militias used to get their support from young men with no work and no hope.The militias used to get their support from young men with no work and no hope.
So they were happy to take a few dollars in return for firing off the odd rocket. The militias haven't necessarily been defeated. They've just disappeared. They could come back.So they were happy to take a few dollars in return for firing off the odd rocket. The militias haven't necessarily been defeated. They've just disappeared. They could come back.
And that's the thing no-one wants to happen.And that's the thing no-one wants to happen.