This article and others keep saying that the Basra fight was ended by a cease fire brokered by Iran. The Iraq government never stopped attacking and whiping the militias backed by Iran. The militias gave up in the face of the relentless Iraq army. A one sided cease fire is called a surender.

Paul M. Neville, Jackson, USA

Chandran in Singapore: If they are planning to fight later why did they throw their weapons in the river? Why fight later when the Iraqi army is only going to even stronger later? Face facts the Mahdi army is finished Sorry

Eric, NC, USA

Thank you to the brave British, American, Australian and Iraqi soldiers. Freedom of anyone anywhere in this World comes at a great price we in the West must ensure that we still support that as we did in World War 1 and 2 and many other conflicts prior and post.
God bless you all and keep safe.

Andy Moore, Solihull, UK

To:
Jason, anchorage alaska, USA

You mean sacrified thousansds of innocent people to do what "he thought was right" i.e. establish US militaray bases in iraq and secure lucrative oil contacts for US companies. Wake up Jason.

Jay, Herndon, USA

You westerners crack me up. You didn't defeat them, they just vanish. The invisible enemy lives to fight another day... another day...

Chandran, Singapore,

And let's not forget a courageous leader of the Free World (President Bush), who has stayed the course despite the many criticisms he has withstood from the media. It says alot about a man who is willing to sacrifice his image to do what is right. God bless our Troops and our President.

Jason, anchorage alaska, USA

Well, the liberals continue to live in denial, in recognizing any positive developments in Iraq. The Iraqi government, far from perfect (by western standards) is making undeniably important strides in getting control of the populas and extending their control over their own country, so we can leave

kelly, seattle , usa

Uh, excuse me....who exactly are 'we' fighting in Iraq? Is it the Iranian-backed Maliki 'government'? Are we taking sides in a civil war? What is the end game? How many Iraqis are internally- or externally-displaced? What utter tripe to say the Iraqis are winning! The only winners are Big Oil.

Ninbus, Intervale NH, USA

Ron... asymmetric warfare or no (and restricting themselves to guerrilla warfare is a downgrade for the Mahdi army) this is a strategic retreat. Normally you'd be mostly right, but you're mostly wrong in this case because the anti-government forces are now very short on territory.

Toteone, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong (China) & Norway

You're wrong Ron, because the comparison doesn't hold. The Taliban has plenty of territory left to maneuver around and recruit from, including northwestern Pakistan. The anti-government forces are nearly out of territories, supply lines and are increasingly relying on a dwindling number of boltholes

Toteone, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong (China) & Norway

The only reason no fighting occurred is because the resistance decided not to fight this particular battle. It's a strategy known as guerrilla warfare. Just like in Afghanistan where the Karzai government acts like they chased out the Taliban from Kandahar. They didn't. The Taliban left to fight

ron, Asheville NC, USA

Good to see all the real hard work by UK and US troops paying off at last - a long haul but history will show it was worthwhile.

Pete R., Stoke-on-Trent, UK

In contrast to Ole Blighty's blighted future, Oliver? How sad.

Cybella, Porter Ranch,

Eric

Did the Iraqis ask the US and allies to intervene?

How many innocent people have died at the hands of naive Americans just like you who believe you had just cause?

Deftor, Shanghai, China

Time is a great teacher. It's apparent training breeds success, success breeds confidence, and confidence breeds greater success. Freedom is the end result.

God Bless the US Military who sacrifice it all for Freedom both at home and abroad.

Taylor, TX, USA

Taylor, Houston, USA

The good guys are winning. Imagine a stable and prosperous Iraq next door to Iran. The mullahs will have an awful time controlling the population with freedom just across the border.

Denny , USA,

Couldn't have done it without the Brits and the Aussies. United we stand and conquer enemies of freedom!

Lauren C, Michigan City, USA

Take life easy Nigel, your troops are the same as ours. The turning tail was done by the leadership not the troops. The US ran in Vietnam but it wasn't the troops who were doing the running. They wanted to stay.

Mike H., Spokane, USA

Looks like the Iraqis are doing it. And everyone said it was impossible. Bravo for them.

Donna, Jersey City, US

YES!! This one of the last obastacles to peace and our men and women coming home. Thank you so much limeys for sticking by us!! Your American brothers and sisters still love you so much!!

Kyle, Houston, TX, USA

It's about time, from the beginning I have said, they need to give the people a chance to choose, leave peacefully or stay and die. Who cares who runs away as long as they leave.

Once we have a foothold on the area citizens can return
home, alive!

Semper Fi, God bless America.

Joe, Esko MN, USA

How embarrassing for us Brits that we retreated with our tails between our legs and under cover of darkness and then the ynks and the iraqis take the place without a shot being fired

nigel roberts, sheffield, england

I served in Baghdad in 2004 and my heart is touched by these reports! What is going on really gives all of us who served hope that Iraq and its wonderful people will have a chance to live in peace finally. Stay the course and give peace and the Iraqi people a chance!

Jack, OK City, USA

The People of Iraq have a bright future.How trite.

oliver, Brighton,

It's good to see Iraq making good progress. The people of Iraq have a bright prosperous future, thanks to the sacrifices of so many brave people

Eric, NC, USA