Posted on 11/24/2007 1:46:00 PM PST by Sergei Andropov
BAGHDAD (AP) — Attacks against British and Iraqi forces have plunged by 90 percent in southern Iraq since London withdrew its troops from the main city of Basra, the commander of British forces there said.
The presence of British forces in downtown Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, was the single largest instigator of violence, Maj. Gen. Graham Binns told reporters Thursday on a visit to Baghdad's Green Zone.
"We thought, 'If 90 percent of the violence is directed at us, what would happen if we stepped back?'" Binns said.
Britain's 5,000 troops moved out of a former Saddam Hussein palace at Basra's heart in early September, setting up a garrison at an airport on the city's edge. Since that pullback, there's been a "remarkable and dramatic drop in attacks," Binns said.
"The motivation for attacking us was gone, because we're no longer patrolling the streets," he said.
Last spring, British troops' daily patrols through central Basra led to "steady toe to toe battles with militias fighting some of the most tactically demanding battles of the war," Binns said. Now British forces rarely enter the city center, an area patrolled only by Iraqis.
The majority of attacks now target Iraqi forces, but overall violence now is still a tenth of what it was in May and June.
"They're increasingly in the frame — more at risk — as they take over more responsibility," Binns said of his Iraqi counterparts.
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.google.com ...
“Pull out now, damn it!!!!!!”
My name is Ron Paul, and I have approved of this message.
What do you think the insurgency was about? And what do you think is the principal reason it is now ending?
Meanwhile, the Shiite sheikhs are saying that thanks to the Brits, southern Iraq has become an Iranian province.
ROTFLMAO!
Yep, the surge is working!
Thank you troops for many do appreciate what you have sacrificed.
Because of you, it's working!
It’s about different things to different groups. Al-Qaeda’s goal in Iraq was to destabilize it so they could build their “Islamic State in Iraq” out of the rubble. So long as they are active there, there will be no peace. With their extermination, the biggest obstacle to peace will have been removed.
The apparent success of the surge is explained away as a coincidence and the lull in violence had nothing to do with the take and hold strategy of Gen Patreaus.
The libs will never give the military credit for anything unless it is something that reflects poorly on them or the country they fight and die for.
After the "surge" focus on Pakistan.
The MSM sure is now. ; )
My name is Ron Paul, and I have approved of this message.
Oh, just let it ride and wear a condom Ron.
The Democrat's will appreciate you more if you do. /snicker
The insurgency was about the Sunnis thinking they could bull their way back into power. Al. Qaeda was simply a useful proxy which they used to terrorize the Shiites. The insurgency is now ending because our troops and the Shiites have taught the Sunnis a lesson in the last year that they will never again control Iraq the way they did under Hussein. Realizing that they are defeated and having been driven from large parts of Baghdad, the Sunnis are now attempting to cut the best deal they can. Part of that deal is turning on their erstwhile Al Qaeda allies in order to curry favor with us and with the Shiite government that is control of the oil purse strings.
It is used to be that the libs’ main talking point was that Al Qaeda was a sidelight in the insurgency and that the main force we were having to fight were the native Sunni-Arabs. Now that the native Sunni-Arabs have come over to our side, the talking points have apparently reversed with the native forces being inconsequential and Al Qaeda being all important.
LOL, good one. That was a target rich environment, but I’ll take the high road.
I know you will my FRiend. : )
Best wishes to you.
Regards,
EG
Best wishes to you also. Take care.
I suppose one could say that Vietnam and Cambodia got peace once we left and the region became communist. But for millions, it was the peace of the grave.
What ever talking points they need to destroy our sovereignty, via our strength, they will use...time and time again.
Our military is so sophisticated that we would be able to repel an Iranian invasion from our bases in the Gulf, and in Turkey.
You must have no idea how Iran invades. Yours is a wonderful fantasy though. Just don't think about Lebanon or Palestine and you'll be able to maintain it until all of our interests in Baghdad have been routed.
I was referring to a military invasion.
In that part of the world that is out of fashion...
Can you explain why?
The Brits let the local police get infiltrated by Shiite militias and permitted the police to run around killing Muslims whom they considered insufficiently devout, as well as non-Muslims. Their whole policy was to ignore the militias as long as the militias ignored them. Which kept British and militia casualties down, but brought Iranian rule to southern Iraq via Iraqi Shiite militias - whom the Iranians funded and trained.
Yes there are two ways to look at this. Like you I will let it go.
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