This weeks reversal of Bremer's "de-Baathification" policy has been well documented, but the Shiite reaction has not been noticed so much (apart from Chalabi's pouting). Juan Cole, via the Financial Times, reports that two senior Baath party officials are now running security in Kut and Diwaniya - Shiite towns in the south.
Financial Times
Is the U.S. going to try and use Saddam's apparatus (minus Saddam) to pacify the country ?
And how will the Shiites react on being sold out yet again ?
There were ferocious battles in Kut and Karbala yesterday, as well as the suicide boat attacks.