It's Iran we're fighting, says Basra commander

telegraph.co.uk ^ | 07/09/2007 | David Blair

[neverdem]

It's Iran we're fighting, says Basra commander

By David Blair, Diplomatic Correspondent

Last Updated: 1:54am BST 07/09/2007

British forces in southern Iraq have been fighting a "proxy war" against Iran, the commander of the troops who withdrew from Basra Palace has said.

• Frontline: Our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq

  While the Army has frequently accused Iran of stirring violence across southern Iraq by arming Shia militias, no officer has been as blunt as Lt Col Patrick Sanders, commander of 4th Battalion The Rifles.

  	British forces leave central Basra

  He told the BBC that 5,500 British soldiers still based at Basra Airport could return to the city if called upon by Iraq's newly trained security forces.

  This may happen if Iraq's army needs help against Basra's Shia militias – who Britain accuses Iran of arming and training.
  
  "We are engaged, or we have been engaged, effectively in a proxy war with Iran and if that resumes then they (Iraq's security forces) will need us to help," Lt Col Sanders said.

  He added that Basra was benefiting from a "lull in violence" and his troops had carried out a smooth and bloodless withdrawal from the palace in the city's centre.

  This took place in cooperation with Iraq's British-trained forces and after talks with the Shia militias.

  advertisement

  "There was a lot of potential for some quite serious violence and attacks on us. I'm delighted that it passed off without incident," Lt Col Sanders said.

  In July alone, Shia militias fired 750 mortar bombs at the British base in Basra palace.

  Of all the armed groups faced by British forces in southern Iraq, the Jaish al-Mahdi, or Army of the Mahdi, led by the radical cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, was judged to be the most dangerous.

  But Lt Col Sanders said it was "complete nonsense" to suggest that his troops had been defeated.

  "The militias, and the Jaish al-Mahdi in particular, have thrown just about everything they have got at us. They have been unable to engage us in open fighting. We have been able to patrol around the city at will, on foot and in vehicles, any place or time of our choosing," he said.

  "It's been dangerous, and the level of violence that we have been engaged in and the casualties we have suffered are testament to that. But the notion that this is a defeat is nonsense."

  British forces still hold overall responsibility for security in Basra province. But their primary task is now "overwatch", not combat.

  They will stand ready to assist local security forces, continue training Iraqi soldiers and protect the essential supply route linking American forces in the centre of the country with their depots in Kuwait.

  Lt Col Sanders said their base at Basra Airport was not nearly as vulnerable as their old positions in the Palace.

  "Basra is quiet and stable at the moment and it augurs well for the future. The militias are talking to each other and they are talking to the Iraqi security force leadership. That is all encouraging," he said.

  Lt Col Sanders's troops are due to leave Iraq in late November and early December. He said they would be replaced, indicating that Britain's military presence will continue into 2008.

Information appearing on telegraph.co.uk is the copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited and must not be reproduced in any medium without licence. For the full copyright statement see Copyright

[counterpunch]

Then let's make it official.



 

[DoughtyOne]

And this from the Telegraph. Very good.

This is the future I hope to see across the board.

[DoughtyOne]

And this from the Telegraph. Very good.

This is the future I hope to see across the board.

[FFranco]

I agree, let’s make it official. It’s time for President Bush to Declare War on Iran and end this farce.

[steel_resolve]

why should the british care? they’re racing to see who can retreat fastest to the airbase and out of Iraq. Thanks for your “softly softly” approach assholes.

[neverdem]

Two page letter from General Petraeus to personnel serving in Iraq I can't copy this PDF link.

How I Didn’t Dismantle Iraq’s Army Mr. Bremer's retort

Destruction in black America is self-inflicted since LBJ's Great Society. The war on drugs and guns hasn't helped, IMHO.

From time to time, I’ll ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

[Son House]

How about Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki declare war on Iran, and shut down the boarder around Basra?

[pieceofthepuzzle]

The reality is that the US has been at war with Iran since the hostage crisis during the Carter administration. Khomeini made it clear then that we were his enemy, but we’ve been dancing around the issue ever since. Funny, we are losing American lives and spending lots of money to promote democracy in Iraq, but back when the Shah was overthrown we just sat back and let Islamic militancy get a foot hold in a country with substantial ability to threaten the region. While it is true that by referendum a majority of Iranian citizens approved the establishment of an Islamic Republic, Khomeini was very careful not to tip his hand as to what that would actually look like before it was approved. It was a dynamic environment that we could have influenced. Elections really do have consequences, as the Carter presidency illustrates.

[Earthdweller]

"British forces in southern Iraq have been fighting a "proxy war" against Iran, the commander of the troops who withdrew from Basra Palace has said. "

And this is surprising because...?

It's an equal opportunity war. Any murderous killing extremist thug can apply.

God Bless our troops. Draining the swamps and creating living space for humanity for over 200 years.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping. Interesting read and very interesting FReeper comments. BTTT!

[jeffers]

Iran’s on the short list.

Anything goes boom in the US and Iran lights up like a Christmas tree.

Month by month, Bush is laying the public case for war with Iran.

Reading and re-reading accounts from the players in OEF and OIF, we are currently at great pains to avoid committment to war, all the while positioning troops, supplies and equipment.

Bush can stand down at any time, he hopes there will not be open conflict, but probably assumes there will be open conflict. When it happens, it will be brief, but violent on both sides. Iran will get some licks in, but will lose 30 years worth of accumulated military infrastructure, in hours or days. When the dust settles, Iran will be finished as a military power in the Gulf for at least two decades. Sudan will be sending food stamps to Tehran.

Of course, the back alley war is already going at full tilt. Lot-O-stuff blowing up in Iran these days, and generals disappearing right and left.

If Iran doesn’t stand down, and open their nuke program up like SA and Libya did, war is a certainty. With 3000 centrifuges online, and 47,000 more on the assembly line, I guess sooner rather than later. November 2008-January 2009 is too late IMO, making the likely window March 2008.

[Lurker]

Anything goes boom in the US and Iran lights up like a Christmas tree.

F' that. Iran is killing and wounding our guys almost daily. That's a frigging no crap Act of War and should be responded to as such.

It's time for several Iranian Army and Al Qud bases to be turned into smoking rubble along with a few summer homes that belong to those mullahs. We don't have to hit Amaneedinadinnerjacket himself, just a few of his close associates.

That'll send the message that he isn't safe anywhere once the real shooting starts.

Lot-O-stuff blowing up in Iran these days, and generals disappearing right and left.

Where and who? I haven't heard a word about it.

L

[SunkenCiv]

This is the “Well, duh!” ping for today.

Thanks neverdem.

[Just mythoughts]

Well I suppose so long as the ‘good guys’ stay in Iraq proper these liberals won’t be calling Iran a reenactment of Cambodia.

[jeffers]

In the papers every week.

Easy to spot when you’re looking for it.

The Pasdaran was losing helos, one every single time we lost one in Iraq.

Gotta love those Kurds.

13 tour busses collided with a fuel tanker in SE Iran a while back. Rough pavement, I guess. Potholes.

A whole village blew up in NE Iran before that.

The former Assisstant Secretary of Defense for Iran is hopping from A list party to A list party in Georgetown these days, and and we nabbed five, yes five, in a Baghdad hotel lobby on a “routine traffic stop” last week. Let them go but kept their laptop and oh my, we’re rolling up Quds network on top of network this week.

Chalabi didn’t get sixed because he told the Iranians we were reading their mail and we didn’t want them to know we had been.

Chalabi got sixed because we STILL ARE reading their mail, and didn’t want them knowing every juicy morsel we snag.

Echelon libraries in...Iraq?

Afghanistan?

Oman?

Turkey?

Turkmenistan?

Tight little perimeter, eh?

Satcoms? Well, what goes up, must come down.

The reason you don’t hear about food riots in Iran’s tanking economy is because the birds fall right out of the sky, cooked in flight.

Free squabs for all, courtesy of Raytheon and Westinghouse, mmm tasty.

Yeah, Iran’s scores once in a while.

That’s no reason to run in half cocked.

In the words of the old bull to the young, “Nahhh, let walk down the hill, and F ‘em all”.

Patience.

It’s coming, and revenge is a dish best served cold.

Only way Iran walks is if they fold up like Moammer and that’s not going to happen.

They think they’re...winning.

;-)

[jude24]

I agree, let’s make it official. It’s time for President Bush to Declare War on Iran and end this farce.

Our Army and Marines are strained as it is fighting in Afghanistan and Kuwait. We would need a draft to be able to fight another war.

[Lurker]

Patience.

23 years is a very long time to wait my friend. We owe the Iranians big time and I'd like to be alive to see it happen.

I think 23 October is a fine date for the festivities to begin. It'll let 'em know that we appreciate anniversaries, too.

L

[jeffers]

We just happen to have a table free at nautical twilught on the 23rd, sir.

Will you be wanting the special?

Or the...buffet?

[Lurker]

We just happen to have a table free at nautical twilught on the 23rd, sir.

Chuckle....I believe I'll have the buffet. I'm looking forward to roast mullah with a side of Head of Assad on a Pike.

Semper Fi.

L