Editorial: Basra and the Challenge of the New Government

The situation in Basra will be a decisive test for the new government and for Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. We are saddened that the criminals are escalating their crimes in Basra in a challenge to Maliki, with whom we align ourselves. Maliki should put his pledge to use an iron fist against criminals into action, and not leave it as mere ink on paper. The reputation of the Maliki government will be on the line as long as Iraq’s enemies test the country’s strength. The policy of hiding one’s head in the sand no longer works. The entire country is now looking to Maliki to see what he does to regain Iraq’s confidence. He must dry up the sources of the insurgency by putting its participants on trial for what they have done to the Iraqi people.