The Times (London) reports that shortly after the battle in Basra was lost, the situation in this Iraqi city has improved tremendously

The Times (London) reports that shortly after the battle in Basra was - according to most experts and other analysts - lost, the situation in this Iraqi city has improved tremendously: ‘Young women are daring to wear jeans, soldiers listen to pop music on their mobile phones and bands are performing at wedding parties again… All across Iraq’s second city life is improving, a month after Iraqi troops began a surprise crackdown on the black-clad gangs who were allowed to flourish under the British military. The gunmen’s reign had enforced a strict set of religious codes.’

Yet after three years of being terrified of kidnap, rape and murder – a fate that befell scores of other women – Nadyia Ahmed, 22, is among those enjoying a sense of normality, happy for the first time to attend her science course at Basra University. “I now have the university life that I heard of at high school before the war and always dreamt about,” she told The Times. “It was a nightmare because of these militiamen. I only attended class three days a week but now I look forward to going every day.”

She also no longer has to wear a headscarf. Under the strict Islamic rules imposed by the militias, women had to cover their hair, could not wear jeans or bright clothes and were strictly forbidden from sitting next to male colleagues on pain of death.

“All these men in black [who imposed the laws] just vanished from the university after this operation,” said Ms Ahmed. “Things have completely changed over the past week.”

In a sign of the good mood, celebratory gunfire erupted around Basra two nights ago and text messages were pinged from one mobile phone to another after an alleged senior militia leader was arrested.

Raids are continuing in a few remaining strongholds but the Iraqi commander in charge of the unprecedented operation is confident that his forces will soon achieve something that the British military could not – a city free from rogue gunmen.

British and US officials acknowledge tentatively that a turning point has been reached. Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the British Army, made an unannounced visit to Basra over the weekend.

Local people are daring to hope that the dark days of death squads and kidnap are over, displaying the sort of optimism that was last seen when British forces arrived in 2003 with the false promise of a better life free from Saddam Hussein.

Perhaps, then, the battle didn’t go as horrendous for the Iraqi army as many - including myself - thought. This report indicates that the situation has actually improved tremendously. What’s also interesting about the report at the Times is that it’s very critical of the British forces that controlled Basra for years.

According to the report, the British forces didn’t really do anything against militias. They let them grow, they let them intimidate the local population.

Interestingly enough, the Iraqi army takes an entirely different approach; it’s dedicated to annihilate the militias that had overtaken Basra, and it seems they’re quite successful.

Is Basra all good then? No, the unemployment level, for instance, is still incredibly high. The Iraqi army needs to destroy the militias, but the Iraqi government also has to help the city economically. As long as it stays poor, with high unemployment rates, the danger of a return of the militias is present. The worse the lives of the people living in Basra, the more likely it is that, in the end, they’ll turn to militias for help.

A lot of work obviously remains to be done, but it’s a hopeful report, and a hopeful sign.

More at Commentary.