Major General Jalil Khalaf, the chief of Basra police, was in a delicate situation. Preparing to address a conference of provincial councillors he had been cautioned to take the route of diplomacy. He was well aware of the likelihood of touching on some raw nerves. "I can be honest [but] you will be upset with me and I will not have any friends left."

Nevertheless, he decided on the frank approach, raising the problem of militias killing and intimidating people on Basra's streets. Yes, he acknowledged, the police needed more vehicles - "not fancy cars" - and lacked modern equipment but his main problem was the number of "unqualified" people in his 15,000-strong force and "people who have different loyalties".