Posted on 08/11/2007 7:22:07 PM PDT by Flavius
In the stifling heat the klaxon blasts out its warning. All around off-duty soldiers drop what they’re doing and dive to the ground, ramming helmets on their heads and struggling into body armour.
At the British base in Basra airport, the klaxon means only one thing: incoming rockets. For long seconds the soldiers hug the ground, waiting for the explosion, hoping it won’t be them. “[There’s] no overhead protection,” said one officer in an e-mail. “So if you are unlucky, then nothing is going to save you.”
The blast hits and the soldiers dash for concrete bunkers, or anywhere offering more protection than the flimsy tents that are their home. More rockets may be on their way.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Why aren’t these soldiers dug in?
The first thing any soldier should do in an area subject to shell or rocket fire is to dig a trench, right? Even if you’re topside, you can always jump in.
If all you are in country for is to hunker down so as not to become a casualty you might as well packup and leave
A biased, leftwing anti-American press misleads the British public, and so Harry Reid is taken as gospel.
Ken Pollack, a foreign affairs expert at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, who returned last month from an eight-day visit to Iraq, dismissed last week the British presence in southern Iraq as "meaningless". He said: "I am assuming the British will no longer be [in southern Iraq]. They are not there now. We have a battle group holed up in Basra airport. I do not see what good that does except for flying people in and out. It's the wild, wild west. Basra is out of control."
The Brits used to be top-notch troops. Socialism has utterly destroyed a once proud, brave and productive people. R.I.P. Britain.
Yes, it’s very saddening. I would like to see them turn, replace their commanders with men, and fight. Maybe they will do so, before it’s too late (before many more enemy cells are placed in the UK, as police tactics won’t stop that from eventually happening). Angry, proud denials and accusations against the USA by them only make it worse.
Taleban forces retake Afghan town(Brit soldiers brokered peace deal)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1777968/posts
US Envoy Attacks British Truce With Taliban
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1725331/posts
Britain ‘Out Of Step With NATO Allies’ (Afghan)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1763209/posts
The Brits still are top-notch troops mate. Try searching for the articles about their numerous successes and heroism on this very website. They have won two Vitoria Crosses, many Conspicuous Gallantry Crosses, many dozens of Military Crosses, DFCs etc in the WoT. Some of these awards were given for saving the lives of US troops/marines.
Furthermore, Britain has been the only Western country to deploy its combat troops to heavy combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. We’ve suffered 240 deaths and hundreds wounded. Other allies like the Aussies and Canadians (who are great btw) are facing huge domestic opposition to their deployments despite suffering in the case of the Aussies only 1 combat death (RIP) and the Canadians around 60 (RIP).
In this regard: If Britain is apparently dead, then in what state is the rest of the world in this regard?
The Brits are having a very rough time in Basra at the moment, but the British government is still refusing to back down and name a timetable for withdrawal. Many of the problems in the South are caused by the low numbers of soldiers on the ground. The British military is very stretched as it is also taking the lead in Afghanistan (while many in NATO stand and watch).
I’m proud of the way the UK has stayed with the US when all others have not.
British troops in Musa Qala were besieged for months by vastly superior numbers of Taliban. They repulsed relentless assaults almost daily. It was the locals in Musa Qala who requested a cease-fire. This also allowed the British to release troops for offensive operations. The British had very limited numbers of troops on the ground in Afghanistan. When the Taliban broke the truce, they lost the respect of the Afghan locals. British infantry have led all the major offensives in Helmand province.
The British effort in Afghanistan has been very successful. For the first time since 2001, the Taliban are being driven out of their Helmand heartland. This has come at a cost for British troops, bearing the brunt of the fighting. Often cut off and surrounded for weeks in isolated outposts the British have won every one of their engagements. One Canadian soldier sent to relieve such an outpost descibed the British as ‘unbelieveable soldiers’ and couldn’t believe that the British had fought on in such conditions for months. I’ll see if I can find the article. Dozens of gallantry medals have been awarded. Mnay articles on these have been posted on FreeRepublic if you look.
With regards to Iraq. It has been speculated that the British were about to leave ‘imminently’ several times over the last few years. Each article has brought many anti-British slurs on this website, despite not turning out to be true.
The British are having a tough time in Basra at the moment. But the UK government is still refusing to put a timetable on UK troop withdrawals.
Well one wonders why in the hell the USA troop surge didn’t include sending help to Basra or maybe that is on the time table?
I don’t blame the soldiers at all, having met a few along the way. I do blame the commanders.
It was noticeable that there were complaints about lack of air support in Helmand—that there was a fear of ground fire hitting helicopters. My questions were, “Were the helicopters not armored enough?” “Did they not have sufficient weapons ranges?” And “Why did soldiers on the ground not call for US air fire then?” They speak the same language as ours to call for fire. There was an apparent excess of independence going on.
...same in Basra. If patrols could not be done with Iraqi soldiers during training for some reason, why were US soldiers not there to help?
It appears that after all these years, allied commanders and politicians have not been communicating well enough with each other again.
I know that US and British enlisted soldiers get along fine, BTW, and sense a Montgomery in the bad mix. We don’t have a Patton these days.
Some commissions from enlisted ranks of both forces would solve some of the problems that have occurred, IMO. ...too many lords of various sorts in command in both forces.
you ought to be happy slapped silly for that one mate. If this is the INGRATITUDE that the US show its ALLIES, it doesn’t deserve to have any. In fact, the country most like you in the world is the Russian Federation, so why don’t you shack up with them?????????
WE ARE PROUD THAT OUR HEALTH SERVICE IS FREE AT THE POINT OF ENTRY, BUT THIS IS HARDLY THE SOCIALISM YOU ARE TRYING TO REFER TO! WE HAVE THE FOREMOST FINANCIAL CITY IN THE WORLD, SO THAT MAKES UP CAPITALISTS. WE ALSO, DESPITE HAVING THE 28TH LARGEST MILITARY IN THE WORLD, ARE ONLY OUTSPENT BY THE USA IN THE MILITARY BUDGET, LEAVING US WITH THE MOST ADVANCED ARMED FORCES IN THE WORLD.
R.I.P?????? YOU TALK SPEW MATE. YOU FOR SURE, AREN’T WELCOME IN MY COUNTRY, AND YOU WOULD BE LEFT IN A COMA IF YOU UTTERED THAT VOMIT ON THESE SHORES. SO SIT BACK IN YOUR ARMCHAIR MADAME PRESIDENT, AND STOP BOTHERING ME WITH THE NONSENSE YOU ARE PEDDLING AT THE MOMENT.
i have clashed with you before mate, but why are you still tryin to protray my countrymen and soldiers are being unfit for the task. Especially in Helmand, where we have taken over the from the US, who had allowed the region to deteriorate into ‘the black heart of the taliban’.
I’m utterly offending by the comment you and ought-six are making, and your blatant nati-british attitude is disgusting. We have sacrificed lives of soldiers and their families to back you boys up, but if this is the gratitude we recieve from you back-stabbing fiends...............cheers, thanks for nothing.
my mistake.
must be mistaken identity. apologies.
“Is the world flat, as some leading scientists claim...”
Thank you.
Please notice my more specific comments #11 and #12. We in the USA also have too many people from the social left as officers in our military forces and politicians in our State Dept.
In my negative perception, our nation is going the way that Britain is going—too soft at the top. If Iran is allowed to obtain or build nuclear weapons, damage to the USA will closely follow the same in western Europe if not be simultaneous. Iran is the enemy link between two other larger, expansionist nations.
S. Korea, U.S. verifying reports on test of new N.K. missile in Iran: source
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1834307/posts
(4,000 kilometer range—will reach London and Rome—May 16th, 2007)
there are other threats on the horizon for sure. any British backing for use of force would mean UK puls out of iraq. our troops are just too stretched at the moment.
If we are facing defeat regarding basra, dont get onto the people nor the soldiers of the UK. We have given our best, and if not good enough then ok, but credit must be due to allies who give of their all when called upon.
Chill out, Bub. In my view, a country that criminalizes the right to self defense is a lost cause. It is a crime in England to protect oneself from assault. It is illegal for an old lady to use a hat pin to fight off an attacker. It is illegal for a pensioner to hit an attacker with a shoe. That’s YOUR country’s law, mate. Sounds like R.I.P. is in order, I’d say. Oh, by the way: My Mother is from England, so 50% of the blood in my veins is English. But, like America’s founders, who were English before they tossed off Britain’s yoke, I am 100% American. Your nation is a poor shadow of its once-great self. Winston Churchill would get the fantods if he saw what has become of England. The label “Londonistan” is no idle application.
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