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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Maliki is a cock. Iraq will never fully sort itself out with this idiot at the wheel. Why not call for the 82nd and the Brits if he wanted to really crack down?
April 10th, 2008 at 5:12 amServes you right, Gordon Brown. You and your cowardly administration have done a great job of upholding Churchill’s legacy.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:13 amSay good-night…”great” Britain.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:16 amWhy call Montgomery when Patton is available.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:17 amThe UK is sliding down the dhimmi hole anyway.
Now paying govt benefits to muslims with polygamous marriages, how screwed up is that? How much longer before sharia in England? Honor killings, stonings, beheadings, amputations with your fish and chips?
April 10th, 2008 at 5:20 amWhere is Sir Winston Churchill when you need him? Isn’t there even a Brit anywhere who can at least channel Sir Winston…
Prince Harry showed a bit, but not enough.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:32 amWhat the hell is wrong with you people? You are hailing the decision of Maliki to not include British forces as some sort of victory? The Brits in Basra should have played a significant role in bailing Maliki out. What ever happened to the coalition of the willing? How about part of the bill for this war on someone else’s pay stub?
April 10th, 2008 at 5:37 am“Why call Montgomery when Patton is available.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself Steve!!!
April 10th, 2008 at 5:41 amI wouldn’t blame the squaddies….Brown on the other hand is a carbon copy of his idol Neville Chamberlain. There is a point at which tolerance and indifference meets the downfall and Dhimnitude of a nation. The Brits and the rest of Europe have arrived at that point. It’s still not too late to straighten your backs and join us.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:53 amBrit military is getting bent over by its political leaders.
April 10th, 2008 at 6:16 amThe Brits never should’ve left in the first place. Any shame or embarrassment is well-deserved.
April 10th, 2008 at 7:06 amMaliki didn’t request aid from the British because he knew they would not be willing to go into Basra city, he turned to the Americans because he knew they were. There is no coalition of the willing, there is the Americans and Iraqis, and then the British who don’t want to leave their airport. If you remember JadedSage it was the British who withdrew from Basra and allowed this situation to evolve, why would Maliki go to these people?
April 10th, 2008 at 7:06 amIf you remember JadedSage, it was the British who pulled out of Basra city and allowed this situation to evolve to the point it is currently at. Why would he go to these people for help when they were unwilling to finish the job in the first place? There is no coalition of the willing, there is only the Americans and the Iraqis.
April 10th, 2008 at 7:08 amCoalition of the willing? You don’t have a major Western military power’s front line troops move out of the fighting zone in fear of a rag tag militia group’s attacks.
How can the British be expected to handle a real enemy combat threat from a regular military? Too much politics in their military agenda and not and not enough will to fight.
It’s a form of cowardice that is hostile and emboldens.
April 10th, 2008 at 7:28 amThe Brits are being stung for their political cowardice, it is not the soldier’s shame by any means as far as I am concerned. The Iraqi gov’t is sending a clear and unambiguous message to the PM. Fuck you, end message.
Who didn’t see something like this happening? Oh yeah, JadedSage didn’t. What a shitty name anyway, jaded, it must suck going through life like that.
April 10th, 2008 at 7:32 amPM Gordon Brown shamed the “squaddies” and Britian—but that seems too be what the UK wants, being intimidated by their ragsheads who they allowed to overrun their once great country.
April 10th, 2008 at 7:51 amThis is as if looking into a mirror if this punk obama and the democrat Marxist’s take the upcoming election.
Blame the leadership, not the soldiers, indeed….
April 10th, 2008 at 7:58 amdefinitely a leadership problem. I take nothing away from the British forces, i dont doubt their fighting abilities.
PM Brown seems to be the problem here. you dont tie your forces hands behind their backs while in a combat zone, you become ultimately more unsafe that way than by giving them the green light.
April 10th, 2008 at 8:41 amThis is indeed in store for us too if Hussein wins.
Leftys cannot run a country - they can’t even runa lefty commune.
Next time Brown “urges” the Chinese to stop abusing Tibetans,
if the Chinese even look up, they’ll just murmur “or what?”.
Only good thing that can be said for the UK - Brown wasn’t elected.
April 10th, 2008 at 8:53 amHe got rid of Tony Blair in an internal putsch - allowed in Brit
politics. Not looking like he’ll get re-elected when they have to
hold their next elections, not til 2012, I think.
If you were Maliki who would you want to go into battle with?
We didn’t let Iran board one of our ships and take our soldiers hostage.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:18 amYou saved me my anti-dhimmi election rant
In the realm of unlikely/impossible/improbable scenarios/visions/ideas …
Wouldn’t you love to see throngs of Brit troops “defect” to the American forces over there?
Okay … Cutting back on cold meds and coffee now …
April 10th, 2008 at 9:42 amEgfrow,
I think it is crap how Maliki treated a nation that helped Iraq obtain their freedom. It matters not they are withdrawing now; the fact that he snubbed an ally is simply pathetic. It seems to me the Iraqis would want to keep the British on good terms on their way out. It just shows Maliki is a mental midget and not worthy to hold that position.
April 10th, 2008 at 10:44 amThe MoD has done their damndest to tie the average squadie’s hands at every turn and then they tell them not to wear the uniform when home on leave. Maliki was just trying to shame the UK into living up to their commitments. I expect it was done with tacit approval from US leadership.
For the Brits doing what they can, when the MoD lets them:
TOMMY
Rudyard Kipling
I went into a public-’ouse to get a pint of beer.
The publican ‘e ups an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”
The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:
O it’s Tommy this, and Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins,” when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins,” when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘adn’t none for me.
They sent me to the gallery or ’round the music-’alls.
But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! They’ll shove me in the stalls!
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy wait outside”;
But it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide,
The troopships’ on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,
O it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.
Yes, making mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they’re starvation cheap;
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re goin’ large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.
Then it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy ‘ow’s your soul?”
But it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O, it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll.
We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;
While it’s Tommy this an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy fall be’ind,”
But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir,” when there’s trouble in the wind.
There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,
O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir,” when there’s trouble in the wind.
You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires, an’ all:
We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
April 10th, 2008 at 10:53 amBut it’s “Saviour of his country,” when the guns begins to shoot;
Yes, it’s Tommy this an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
But Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool - you bet that Tommy sees!
TBinSTL 
April 10th, 2008 at 11:57 amThe Brits showed their true colours (UK spelling) when their so called Royal Marines (accept for two) were kidnapped by Iran and acted like a bunch of pansies. I don’t think their hearts are in the game.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:26 pmMaliki’s action could have been completely pragmatic - what good would asking the Brit’s to engage be if their ROE’s make them completely useless? It doesn’t necessarily reflect on the squaddies, but if this keeps up the dhimmis and lawyers in the British government will drive out the real soldiers over time and demoralize their entire country as well. The capture of the boarding party by Iran, their behavior in captivity, the British allowing the Shia militias to take over the local police force and government in Basra, withdrawal of their forces to the airport and reluctance to use force effectively before that - these are all warning signs of a lack of competent leadership. Patton versus Monty Indeed.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:45 pmI agree. The Brit pullout precipitated the whole problem. The PM ought to be publically bitch-slapped.
Could use Patton there, N Korea, Venezuela, …
April 10th, 2008 at 12:56 pm“I will tell you this, however. I’m gonna’ beat that ‘gentleman’ to Messina!”
“Montgomery’s a fine commander. But his problem is that he’s more concerned with not losing the war than with winning it.”
“I shaved extra close today in hopes of being smacked by you!”
The Brits are very fine soldiers. But their officer corps is as worthless as ever. As soon as a Brit becomes an officer, he starts acting like a goddamned prima donna celebrity. No wonder the Iraqis don’t want them.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:39 pmThere is no lack of fighting spirit in the British army. Still as tough as ever, just read reports coming out of Afghanistan. Bayonets still getting fixed and getting driven home.
‘Prime Minister’ Brown was not elected as leader by his party or Britain. He pushed out Blair in rebellion. He’s now finding that he is not fit to lick Blairs boots (and I never much liked Blair really…) and that his cowardly mix of Stalinism and Mr Bean leadership is going to drive him out, hopefully before he totally ruins the country.
Rant over. Sorry. Gets my blood boiling.
And for the record it was the Royal Navy sailors that surrendered to the Iranian gunboats. Yes, a disgrace how they cow-towed to the cameras, but they are sailors, not more than one step away from civilian technicians really. The British army still mixes it up hard with the best of them when rules of engagement allows.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:49 pmBut if Maliki doesnt want us onside then fuck him. Incompetant spineless retard. If he had any balls then this whole campaign would have been over long before now. Does he actually want to win?
The disconnected political leadership is not a reflection on the individual soldiers ability or steadfastness.
They listen to polls and theories instead of the boots on the ground.
April 10th, 2008 at 2:09 pmHere is a likely scenario. In the not to distant future, what is left of any freedom in Britain will be desperately calling on the U.S. to bail them out right on the island as the invited muzzie towel-headed bed sheeting yahoos
attempt and carry out a coup in the U.K. and we go bail them out again. We hit the beaches of Cornwall, Dover, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to free the British people from themselves. I would not be surprized if this happens soon. Then a movie can be made, “Saving Mother Country.”
April 10th, 2008 at 3:55 pmI need a freaking beer.
Chris
April 10th, 2008 at 4:39 pmThats it! —Mr. Bean for PM.
maybe for POTUS, hell, we could laugh and be done with the PC crap.
Keep it simple with BEAN!
I’m in line with you Chris. Maliki’s snub of the Brits is an idiotic move. The British helped hold down the South during the invasion. I particularly remember some serious night fighting on the outskirts of Basra. I’m just wondering when the Iranians are going to come in and replace the British in bring peace to the South. This whole adventure is turning into one big cluster%#@* Does anyone really have any faith in Maliki? How close are his ties to Iran? What if he makes a pact with Iran to ensure security and then asks us to leave?
April 10th, 2008 at 4:51 pmConsider that Maliki’s snub may indicate that what the Brits were offering wasn’t worth having, or was more trouble than it was worth. Delicate consideration for the feelings of your opponent were not called for in this instance.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:36 pmHey we dont need to send in our boys. Just tlet the Kurds come down, I gurantee they can handle it. Now there are some guys that are are loyal to us and eager to prove themselves. I always liked working w/them
April 11th, 2008 at 3:06 am