Iraq Snubs Britain And Calls On U.S. For Basra Combat Instead
Maliki even basically told the Brit commander to fuck off when he asked to meet during the battle.
Two different reports from top Brit Papers:
1. Times Online
Relations between Britain and Iraq suffered “catastrophic failure†after Baghdad bypassed the British military and called in the American “cavalry†to help the recent offensive against Shia militia in Basra, The Times has learnt.
About 550 US troops, including some from the 82nd Airborne Division, were sent from Baghdad to Basra to join up with 150 American soldiers already serving with Iraqi forces in the southern city.
The Ministry of Defence made much of the fact that British troops, based at Basra airport outside the city, were not requested in the early stages of the operation. British officials claimed that the Basra offensive was proof that Iraqi troops could cope on their own.
The Times has learnt, however, that when Britain’s most senior officer in Basra, Brigadier Julian Free, commander of 4 Mechanised Brigade, flew into the city to find out what was going on, Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, who was orchestrating the attacks on militia strongholds, declined to see him.
2. Telegraph:
Iraq has snubbed British forces in Basra, turning to US troops to help fight Shia militia in the southern city despite the presence of British soldiers.
The withdrawal by British troops in September from their base at Basra palace to the relative safety of Basra airport outside the city has been blamed for the decision by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, to call for American help fighting the Mahdi army two weeks ago.
The offensive, ordered by Mr Maliki, was intended to stamp the government’s authority on the city.
But when the fighting grew fierce, Mr Maliki asked for assistance from American troops, with the US 82nd Airborne Division sent from Baghdad to Basra, despite UK forces being much closer.
Mr Maliki declined to meet Brig. Julian Free, Britain’s most senior officer in Basra, it was reported last night.
Instead, he asked Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin, the US commander in Iraq, for military support.
The arrival of the US troops in Basra left British forces “miserable†as they watched American soldiers fighting alongside Iraqi forces “basically doing the work that we were supposed to do”, a military source was reported saying.
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