Got allies?

Juan Cole:

The British plan to draw down their forces in Iraq from the current 9,000 to 2,000 by next May. They soon plan to turn Maysan and Muthanna provinces over to the Iraqi government. In practice, this move will probably deliver the provinces to Shiite party paramilitaries such as the Badr Corps of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq and the Mahdi Army of Muqtada al-Sadr. (See the comments of a British reservist yesterday at Informed Comment by scrolling down.) The six southernmost Shiite provinces are probably not so insecure as to require a major British presence.

Dumb enough to invade, but not THAT dumb.