It takes no genius to see that once foreigners leave, each sect will abuse the other, and there will be a civil war. It is a form of genius to not see that.

"The people of Basra tell us the central government has very little authority here. They say that the militias are in charge and that the police are helping them. Even the police chief says he doesn't trust 60 percent of his force.

"So, who are the militias?

"One is the Badr Brigade, trained and funded by Iran — a group that has been accused of assassinations and of torturing Sunni rivals.

"Another militia is loyal to hard-line cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. British diplomats told NBC News an offshoot of Sadr's group in September attacked British troops, who were then kidnapped by police."