Images from Today's Fighting in Basra

"Al-Hurra TV has incredible footage from the fighting today in Basra that pitted Iraqi security forces against a weird 'new-age' Shia cult. I found some of the scenes very disturbing.

First, the Iraqi security forces involved in this operation were very poorly trained; distribution of fighters, muzzle discipline and chain of command were all lacking. There were several fighters in civilian uniform and others wearing military-issue uniforms with civilian coats. Soldiers were shouting the names of the Shia Imams to give themselves courage; it looked like a mess and sounded like amateur hour."
Talisman Gate