Huh? What the heck is going on in Basra??

Check out this story. VERY REVEALING!
Basra tense after jail raid drama
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/09/20/iraq.main/index.html
"...UK armored vehicles crashed into a detention center in Basra and later rescued two undercover troops."
"...two unknown gunmen in full Arabic dress began firing on civilians in central Basra, wounding several, including a traffic police officer..."
"The two gunmen fled the scene but were captured and taken in for questioning, admitting they were British Marines carrying out a "special security task," the official said."

So many questions about this incident:
Gee, I thought the Iraq police were our allies? Guess not.
If accounts are accurate, why were these 2 British marines in full Arabic dress and firing on civilians? What was this "special security task"?
Could this be evidence of the coalition fomenting unrest in relatively "peaceful" sections of Iraq? For what purpose? To further spread the civil war in the country perhaps?
Did you know that twice in the past 2 months somebody affiliated with the NY Times has been killed in Basra? Curious...

Things that should make you go hmmm....

- Vox