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Posted on 08/04/2008 4:01:58 PM PDT by flyfree
A secret deal between Britain and the notorious al-Mahdi militia prevented British Forces from coming to the aid of their US and Iraqi allies for nearly a week during the battle for Basra this year, The Times has learnt.
Four thousand British troops – including elements of the SAS and an entire mechanised brigade – watched from the sidelines for six days because of an “accommodation” with the Iranian-backed group, according to American and Iraqi officers who took part in the assault.
US Marines and soldiers had to be rushed in to fill the void, fighting bitter street battles and facing mortar fire, rockets and roadside bombs with their Iraqi counterparts.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Shame, shame, shame!
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We won’t hurt you, so you won’t hurt us, right?
WOW!
So nothing to do with letting the Iraqi forces take responsibility? This is their country - let them take control of local situations.
Neville Chamberlain is evidently alive and well.
Did you even read the article?
“US Marines and soldiers had to be rushed in to fill the void”....
Our wimpy allies backstabbed us, for their own political purposes and you think this is AOK...oh, brother.
As much as I respect the British as soldiers-- their political leaders and high command are paltroons. They have done a deal with the devil to keep the looney British Left placated--and disgraced their honor.
This is the kind of crap the the Lord Messiah Obama will do for us...
In any case, the lesson to the U.S. is; “don't rely on ‘allies’”.
For Iraqis’ it is; “you can depend on the US when strong leaders are at the helm.”
My first thought too. Euroweenies indeed.
Go sit on the bench with the British cowards.
Exactly. If people are not up to the task at hand, then they should GFO and let the men handle it.
That one stood out, but so did the ‘holiday’.
‘The British were partly handicapped because their commander, Major-General Barney White-Spunner, was away on a skiing holiday when the attack began. When Brigadier Julian Free, his deputy, arrived to discuss the situation with Mr Maliki at the presidential palace in Basra, he was made to wait outside.
He said: “Without the support of the Americans we would not have accomplished the mission because the British Forces had done nothing there. I do not trust the British Forces. They did not want to lose any soldiers for the mission.”
I can't say I blame them.
I have very high regard for the British soldiers, but this and the Iranian hostage fiasco have done great damage to their reputation.
Blame Gordon Brown, and Des Browne.
Defense is so important to Gordon Brown that he made Des Browne both Secretary of State* for Defence AND Secretary of State for Scotland. In other words, the UK currently has a part time defense minister!
Reason # 4265 that Labour is going to get thrashed in the next election.
*Most cabinet ministers in the UK are styled Secretary of State for “x”. A few have other titles.
So nothing to do with letting the Iraqi forces take responsibility? This is their country - let them take control of local situations.
Since when did the United States Marine Corps become the Iraqi Marine Corps?
The Brits could have aided their American allies but they did NOT because they had cut a protection deal with the enemy.
We are not in Iraq just to establish "Democracy". We have vital national interests there.
Iraq sits right smack in the middle of the Persian Gulf geographic region that contain 70% of the World's known oil reserves. It is in our vital strategic interests not to allow Iraq to fall under the control of Iranian-backed religious fanatics.
Sitting on your arse and allowing the Iraq War to be won or lost based on the performance of the Iraqi Army is as idiotic as allowing D-Day to be won or lost based on the performance of the Free Resistance.
The British, not to mention the rest of Europe, also have a vital strategic interest in not allowing 70% of the World's known oil reserves to fall under the military control of Islamist fanatics.
However, it is much easier to allow their American "friends" to protect their vital interests for them with a minimum of British blood.
"Britain has no permanent friends, she only has permanent interests." ...... Former British Prime Minister Lord Palmerston
Being in both Iraq and Afghanistan keeps Achmed in a dinner jacket and the mullahs nervous.
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