I think your marine friend has hit the nail on the head. The Iraqis will never be American or for that matter do things the British way in the Basra area. Completely agree with your last paragraph self determination is exactly that, doesn't mean they are going to choose what we in the west would want. Of course only time will tell and in the mean time I will keep on making up the parcels as I just know my son and baby bro are going to end up doing a lot more tours in Iraq.
Maureen