Posted on 07/09/2005 8:17:25 PM PDT by jmc1969
BRITAIN is negotiating with Australia to hand over military command of southern Iraq to free up British troops for redeployment to the front line in Afghanistan.
An announcement is expected within weeks that several thousand British soldiers are to be sent to Afghanistan.
The prospect of Australia taking command at the Basra headquarters will be a key item in talks that John Howard, the Australian prime minister, will be holding next weekend with Tony Blair and President George W Bush.
Howard, who is also considering sending a few hundred troops to Afghanistan, insisted last week that Australia would remain in Iraq “until the job is finished”.
Australian SAS soldiers are already taking over from their British counterparts in southern Iraq to allow up to two British special forces squadrons to Afghanistan, senior defence sources said.
If Britain hands over command, American commanders are keen for Australia to take over. However, there is widespread opposition to the Iraq war in Australia.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
It's not a good sign if the UK wants to cut and run from Iraq.
I would suggest that now is a good time to send more U.S. troops to both Iraq and Afghanistan, whether Rummy thinks we need them or not.
No...this is actually very good to put more emphasis on OBL...things are getting better in Iraq, don't believe the media.
There's an article on FR today about huge troop withdrawls and handing over all but about 7 provinces to Iraqis by mid to late 06.
I would suggest now is a good time to nuke Mecca and Medina. It is inevitable, might as well get it out of the way.
I agree, get OBL and the President gets free reign to do what he wants (Iran?).....also, the Brits want blood after last week.
BTW: if you read the full article those troop withdrawals it states that was just one of many options...of course that is assuming the "secret UK document" in question is real.
Bad move .. the Brits ought to reconsider and ask the Aussies to handle the Afghanistan assignment just to deny the propaganda win for the terrorists. Sure, this has probably been in the planning stages for a while and is not as a result of the terror bombings. But the appropriate action is to stay, not to leave.
I happen to think Zarqawi is probably far more likely responsable for the London bombings then Bin Laden. Zarqawi has been the operational commander of much of the European al-Qaeda network and he has his own terrorist nework in Europe since 2001.
The Spanish did the same thing, they moved their troops to Afghanistan as to say they didn't surrender. They may not feel they are surrendering, but all that matters is how it looks to the world and to the terrorists.
"I would suggest now is a good time to nuke Mecca and Medina. It is inevitable, might as well get it out of the way."
I'm with you on that matter.
And Italy announced the day before that it will begin a withdrawl in the Fall, one day after he and Denmark were threatened by the new Al-Queda source.
don't disagree with you at all....but OBL is the figure head. Capturing him would be as big a blow to the terrorists mentally as the one they hoped to inflict on the British people in London last Thursday.
For most jihadists in the world today Zarqawi is the military symbol of al-Qaeda and Bin Laden is the spiritual symbol of al-Qaeda to them. Wacking either of them would be about the same when it comes to demoralizing the jihadists worldwide.
And, we aren't going to get Bin Laden until we are more willing to go into Pakistan where he has been hiding.
Redeploying from one theater to another is hardly "cutting and running."
I don't see a problem. The Aussies can more than hold up their end in Iraq.
I believe the UK has already said (week or two ago)that it will send more troops to Afghanistan.
May be it's time the Aussies earned their free trade agreement. What's more likely is that London has heard of a possible pull out of US forces and doesn't want to be left holding the baby. Won't be the first time the US has shafted an ally.
As cousins, your parents shouldn't have married. Ingrate.
Let me tell you what the stupid arm chair generals should do (apart from shut the FU), realise that these things don't just happen - dimwits.
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