The Pentagon is publicly commending efforts by Iraq's government to take on militants in Basra, even though fighting resulted in a draw and most likely weakened Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
U.S. officials reportedly had minimal knowledge that Maliki was launching the offensive, much less overseeing it from Basra, and then hammering out a settlement through Iranian officials.
All this leaves analysts wondering about the relationship between the U.S. and its man in Iraq.
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