Iraqi Official Says Deal Struck With Al Sadr To Ensure Safe British Departure
Basra, Iraq - The last contingent of British soldiers based in the center of this southern city will leave by Friday, says a senior Iraqi security official, adding that a deal has been struck with leaders of Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army to ensure their safe departure.
As they pull back to a base outside Basra, the British will leave a vital provincial capital in the throes of a turf battle between Shiite factions – one that Mr. Sadr’s militia appears to be winning.
“By the end of August, there will be no presence for British forces at the palace or at the joint coordination center. Both will be in the hands of the Iraqi government,” says the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter. “I think it’s best if they leave, because they did nothing to stop the militias, which were formed in the womb of their occupation.” A spokesman for the British military in Basra confirmed that a small force left the Provincial Joint Coordination Center (PJCC), site of a British-Iraqi security task force, Saturday. He declined comment on the timing of the pullout of 500 soldiers from a compound of four Saddam Hussein-era palaces that are located on the strategic Shatt al-Arab River. The buildings have been occupied by coalition troops since the start of the war in 2003.
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Well, say good-bye to any chance for peace in that part of the world. Say hello to to Sharia law and the Iranian apostate irhabi version of Islam. Hide your women and run like shit.
Yeah…great move. I’m sure the Sunnis got a warm fuzzy right about now…
All this means is that US troops will have to keep an eye on the area for Al Quds infiltrators. Watch this place become the AO for the next Operation Arrow Ripper.
August 27th, 2007 at 3:17 pmIt wasnt bad enough having to patrol the rest of the damn country, now we have to cover the south as well..This just pisses me off! Anyone ever needs us and we’re always right there, Always Faithful..But when we need help who is there? who has our asses covered in Iraq? yeah just go ahead and pullout knowing you have gained nothing, you will be less safe now because of the message you have sent our enemies. Good luck in the future, but Im sure if you need us up the road we will be there. We dont backout on friends.
August 27th, 2007 at 3:39 pmpulll back and then nuke em
August 27th, 2007 at 3:40 pmShould read “Operation Arrowhead Ripper”
August 27th, 2007 at 4:06 pmSounds about right. I’m beginning to seriously think we will actually HAVE to nuke somebody sometime in the next 10 years.
August 27th, 2007 at 5:13 pmKurt, I just yelled at someone about that the other day. Everyone seems to need us, but then we’re yelled at and demonized when we do something and then no one ever helps us when we need it.
August 27th, 2007 at 5:32 pmFuture0311:
You echoed the theme right out of the book “America Alone”.
Read it if you haven’t already….Mark Steyn has been saying roughly the same things that you and Kurt have voiced here.
Good job Infidels…Right on the money…as per usual.
August 27th, 2007 at 5:38 pm“On the streets, there is a sense of jubilation and victory over British forces. In central Arousa Square, a street was renamed after the “martyr Jaafar Muhammad,” killed in clashes with the British. “He’s one of my guys. One of the valiant heroes of the Imam Mahdi Army,” says a bearded company commander who gave his name as Uncle Abed. “God has blessed us with victory over the occupation.”
This is Britain’s Mogadishu; hope they learn something from it!
August 27th, 2007 at 6:05 pmAint buying any of this. Reads like a PR story for the Mahdi Army. They wish the Brits would go ha ha ha. I will seek the truth; this stinks of propoganda.
August 27th, 2007 at 7:16 pmSince I misspelled propaganda , I’ll do it again; perpaganda!
August 27th, 2007 at 7:17 pmHorrible. Now the troops will have to go to Basra! I don’t want anymore of their lives taken.
They made the surge work despite many problems, why on earth can’t the Brits do the same?
August 28th, 2007 at 1:28 am