“Acute Irritation In London”
Anger over plans to step in and bolster ‘abandoned’ Basra province
US military plans to send thousands of troops into southern Iraq in the event of a total British withdrawal have caused acute irritation in London.
The plans were disclosed by Lieutenant-General Raymond Odierno, the second-most-senior American commander in Iraq, in an interwiew with The Times earlier this week.
The timing of his remarks was viewed as particularly unfortunate, coming a few days after 500 British soldiers from the 4th Battalion The Rifles had withdrawn from Basra Palace, the last remaining British-controlled base in the city.
The Government has been at pains to emphasise that it was not a precursor to a full-scale withdrawal of British troops from southern Iraq.
However, General Odierno’s comment seemed to underline the fears expressed by several US military figures recently that Britain was planning to withdraw prematurely, leaving the south to slide further into violence.
General Odierno said that the US had drawn up the contingency plan in case Gordon Brown decided to withdraw the total British force of 5,000 troops, indicating his belief that a general election was looming.
Defence sources in London said: “All we have done is withdraw from Basra Palace, which was agreed with the Americans and the Iraqis as a sensible move to allow the Iraqi security forces to take over responsibility for their own city in the south. But we’re not leaving Iraq.”
“Our commitment to Basra remains the same, and we are working to the same strategy as the Americans, except that we are doing things at a different pace and in different circumstances.”
The sources said that it made no sense for the Americans to feel that they needed to plan to reinforce the south if the British withdrew. One official said: “We’re not going to withdraw until the job is done, and when it is done, we won’t be leaving until everyone agrees, including the Americans and the Iraqi committee on national security, headed by the Iraqi Prime Minister.”
Major Mike Shearer, the British military spokesman in Basra, said: “From a military context we are absolutely in concert with our coalition partners. All we have done is reduce our operational footprint [by moving out of Basra Palace], but nothing else has changed; and since we withdrew from Basra Palace, the city has been quiet.”
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
You’ve been dealing with islam face to face in your own country. What makes you think they’re all of a sudden going to change?
September 8th, 2007 at 1:47 pmSo the British politicians cut and run like a bunch of scared school girls and we step up again.. And they’re mad?
This was a retreat from the start. Our actions show it to be just that. And they’re mad..
September 8th, 2007 at 1:55 pmAll we have done is reduce our operational footprint [by moving out of Basra Palace], but nothing else has changed; and since we withdrew from Basra Palace, the city has been quiet.”
And what, do you suppose the “quiet” muj are doing in your absense?
September 8th, 2007 at 2:01 pmWouldn’t be sporting old chap to not play by the Marques of Queensbury rules. I say old bean…spot of tea….quite…
What a freaking joke.
Perhaps these Brits have still not contemplated their own who said (of us) “These chaps really want to win?”
Quite….
September 8th, 2007 at 2:16 pmThey’re running away and screaming “I’m not running!”
September 8th, 2007 at 2:24 pmriiiight
September 8th, 2007 at 3:12 pmThis is sad. Clearly they’ve been defeated. Now the troops are going to have to go in there and fix the mess the Brits left.
September 8th, 2007 at 11:05 pmThese guys need to drink some water. I think they may have a little sun stroke if they think that the US isn’t going to have to go in and take charge after they run away.
I’m sorry because the Brits are some of the best soldiers around. I really respect them. I think they have the same problems that we do with their support from home.
September 9th, 2007 at 12:35 am” I think they have the same problems that we do with their support from home.”
Much worse. The British media are 199% anti-war, led by the BBC. The public simply take it for granted that the war is a grab for oil, Bush and Blair were lying, etc.
I think I’m the only person I know who supports the war in Iraq.
The other point to remember is that the British troops are good, but the numbers have been reduced and reduced over the years to the point where the UK cannot defend itself, let alone fight two small wars at once. Both manpower and equipment are way below US levels (of course, the UK population is 1/6 of the US population).
I think Blair went into Iraq on the understanding that the British forces would be peacekeepers in a peaceful area. Nobody expected trouble in the Shiite areas - the point of the invasion was to rescue the south from Saddam. And indeed, everything was peaceful at first, until gang warfare and Iranian trouble-making built up.
What nobody seems to have thought of is that Basra is right next to Iran, and Iran (like Zimbabwe) is obsessed with the idea that Britain is its great enemy.
September 9th, 2007 at 3:41 amAll we have done is reduce our operational footprint [by moving out of Basra Palace], but nothing else has changed; and since we withdrew from Basra Palace, the city has been quiet.”Meanwhile, the success of the surge is had by increasing the military footprint, building small bases everywhere, and side filling with Iraqi soldiers.Move along England, the big dogs will take up your slack from here.England is becoming a joke on the world stage, after the incident with Iran, it’s been all down hill. Sad to see a proud country wither away, shirking their global responsibilities. Something Blair did not pass on to his successor, a sense of honor and responsibility.
September 9th, 2007 at 5:25 amDon Cox:
There are many Brits with your ideas. Trouble is, they neither run the government, nor the media. Britain needs to fix its broken moral compass. In America the compass still points to true North. That’s whay there are so many of us left.
Personally, I met many tommies when I was in the military. They were good people. Britain needs another Thatcher or a Churchill…and hang the Browns and the rest of the Chamberlains from the London Tower.
September 9th, 2007 at 5:52 am“” I think they have the same problems that we do with their support from home.”
Much worse. The British media are 199% anti-war, led by the BBC. The public simply take it for granted that the war is a grab for oil, Bush and Blair were lying, etc.”
Because of self serving assholes like Al Gore and the media most people are far too busy worrying about other ‘resources’ to concern themselves with their most important resource… their freedom. They let themselves be led around by the nose on what ‘issues’ are important while their pockets are getting picked by full of shit life stealers like the Dems. A million people on this planet will die this year from malaria. 5 times that due to a lack of drinking water and/or adequate sanitation. Ain’t nobody gonna drown in a NYC street. Talk about an ‘Assault on Reason’ and ‘fear mongering’….
September 9th, 2007 at 10:55 amWant a good pic of the future the Demodumbfucks and the mainscream media have in store for you just look to Europe. One way multiculturalism and all….
H/T Monty:
September 9th, 2007 at 7:19 pm“Brave Sir Gordon ran away
Bravely ran away away
When danger reared its ugly head,
He bravely turned his tail and fled
Yes Brave Sir Gordon turned about
And gallantly he chickened out
Bravely taking to his feet
He beat a very brave retreat
Bravest of the brave Sir Gordon!”