More: Arguing that Basra can serve as a model, British officials have begun to make their case with more intensity as their withdrawal has gained speed.

"Can the U.S. draw some lessons from what we've done?" asked the British military official. "If we allow the Iraqis to . . . take a little risk and we have levels of violence they can control, maybe we don't need to hold on quite so long."

But a person should take notice that the British aren't building permanent bases in Iraq so their intent has always been to give Iraq back to the Iraqis. The U.S. on the other hand..........

Hopefully the Iraqis themselves will realise from the example of the south that it is well worth putting aside their differences and taking their country back.

If they allow permanent US bases there in the future then that is really their concern, but personally i think it would be a bad move on their part to allow any kind of interference in the running of their own country.