Why Are the Events in Basra Being Ignored?

By Scott Morgan

When one thinks of the recent chaos that has been unfolding in Iraq since the Parliamentary Elections most thoughts focus on the process to name not only a new Speaker for Parliament but potentially to decide who will run Iraq as well.

But the chaos plaguing the country has not just been playing out in Baghdad, nor has the situation involving the Kurdistan been immune to it either. But there is another location where the chaos has largely gone ignored - though snippets of information have been able to come out.

There is one area that has become a flashpoint (even though it hasn't generated much press coverage): Basra. You know, the Southern Part of the Country the city - a Shia stronghold - is reportedly a haven for Pro-Iranian Militia Groups.

Since the US Invasion, in 2003, and in the period following the withdrawal of coalition forces there have been several issues that have plagued the city. One issue that has been a major source of concern is water. For more than a decade several machines used to desalinate water have remained unused. Potability of water has been a major source of tension within the city as the population has grown weary over the lack of drinking water.

During the protests in the city, earlier this summer, several locations that were seen as supporting the rulers were targeted by demonstrators. They included both the Iranian Consulate which was destroyed by protestors but replaced by the Iranian Government within days, and the US Consulate. Although there were no reports of damage to the facility itself; the US, on September 28th, saw fit to remove personnel and close the facility. This decision was not well received by the authorities in Basra.

So, why the lack of focus on Basra? Other areas have proven to be more strategically critical at certain points of time. Baghdad, for example, after the recent elections was a obvious area for analysts to monitor. The Kurdistan region was a very hot topic during the rise of and the eventual defeat of Daesh in a three year period which also pointed out flaws in the strategy of the Obama Administration towards Iraq, during that critical period of time which then saw fighting expand into neighboring Syria.

Geography suggests that Basra is a major point of confluence:

• It sits on a major waterway so it is important for trade 
• Its proximity to Iran makes it an obvious gateway into Iraq to support the many militias and other actors that Tehran supports 
• Also it is not that far away from the Saudi and Kuwaiti Border as well
• The actions of the Southern neighbors in the Basra region do not often generate much interest by the Media or Intelligence Services. But shouldn’t they pay attention to what is going on in this city?

Even though there has to be attention paid to both Baghdad and to Irbil, as Iraq continues to move forward as a representative democracy, it appears that for the foreseeable future Basra will be a major flashpoint in internal politics.


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