Sadrists and Brits in Basra

I was just watching the CNN footage of the massive British tank rolling backward and forward as it tried to get out of a tight corner in Basra, while being pelted with Molotovs.
It was extremely compelling footage, and may well considerably dent Blair’s ability to continue with the fiction that he’s doing something worthwhile by persisting to be part of the fighting coalition in Iraq.
I’m going to London this evening and shall report on what I find there.
Juan Cole has lots of material about what’s been happening with the Brits in Basra.
If as he indicates it’s mainly the Sadrists who’ve been active in this whole confrontation, that would seem to mark a significant geographical extension of their ability to exert influence.
Basra is, of course, an absolute logistic chokepoint for any foreign power wanting to control Iraq. If it passes into the hands of determinedly anti-“Coalition” forces, that considerably complicates any prospects of any orderly departure for the main (i.e. US) force. Unless it’s through a negotiated exit. So whoever controls Basra– whether it’s Sadrists or Badrists– has a non-trivial negotiating card in hand.