Secret deal kept British Army out of battle for Basra

TOL ^ | August 5 2008 | Deborah Haynes in Baquba and Michael Evans, Defence Editor

[Dog]

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.

[Dog]

Stunning stuff...they hung out allies becuase they made an "accommodation" with killers.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2056488/posts

[Ramius]

Not sure I buy this.

[Maigrey]

I'd ask if you were kidding, but I know this is not the case.

Would this be a regurgitation of Neville Chamberlain? or the British asked to be killed last?

[brityank]

US advisers who accompanied the Iraqi forces into the fight were shocked to learn of the accommodation made last summer by British Intelligence and elements of al-Mahdi Army, the militia loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr, the radical Shia Muslim cleric.

And probably why that fat slug is still breathing!

[Recon Dad]

They've been pulling the same thing in Afghanistan.

[Chgogal]

Yup, we had to fight hard to get the territory back that the Brits negotiated away.

[Bahbah]

Not sure I want to read the entire thing as I already have steam coming out of my ears.

I am hoping this is a false report.

[nkycincinnatikid]

Just Perfidious Albion being perfidious.

[American_Centurion]

If this is true CENTCOM needs to toss every one of those brits out on their limey arses!

Grrrrrr!