Lock, Stock And Barrel

From a symbolic standpoint, it seems pretty lame that security concerns forced the British to hand off Basra to the Iraqis out at the airport on Sunday.  And, security for the hoopla was all courtesy of the Brits.

Looking for ceremonial images, the newswire was full of “perimeter” pics like these.

In pictures: Basra handover (BBC)

UK has left behind murder and chaos, says Basra police chief (Guardian)

British hand over Basra in disarray (ABC)



(images:  Atef Hassan/Reuters.  Outside Basra airport. December 16, 2007.  via YahooNews.)