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The Iraqi government should not compromise on exercising its authority in every part of the country. Oil-rich Basra, Iraq's second largest city, has been rife with violence and militia rule since British forces pulled late last year.
The bloody competition between rival militias hindered the reconstruction of Iraq because they virtually took over vital oil export facilities and were involved in smuggling.
When Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki decided to go after these rogue groups, he got the support of the majority of Iraqis, who are eager to see stability finally came to the restive province.
The military campaign to "clean up" the province was obviously working - despite the fact that civilians caught in the crossfire were killed - because Moqtada Al Sadr, who controls the strongest militia in the country, finally decided to negotiate.
But the government should not cut a deal that would leave the people of Basra again hostage to the hold of militias. If the campaign turned out to be inconclusive, the credibility of Al Maliki will certainly suffer and he will not be able to do that in other parts of the country, especially with the delicate sectarian situation in Iraq.
The authorities should continue to do whatever they can to bring law and order back to Basra.
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