Regards, Ivan
In memoriam
Posted on 03/24/2003 5:06:34 PM PST by MadIvan
A British soldier died yesterday after being shot while trying to calm rioting civilians near Zubayr, south of Basra, on Sunday.
The soldier, a member of 7th Armoured Brigade, the Desert Rats, was the first Briton to die in combat during the war. His death brought the number of British servicemen killed so far to 17.
Two British soldiers were missing after the convoy in which they were travelling was ambushed by paramilitary fighters near Basra on Sunday.
Their Land Rover came under fire from rocket-propelled grenades at the same time as a Warrior armoured personnel carrier and about 10 other vehicles were attacked.
The two men had disappeared by the time the formation had regrouped and returned fire. A spokesman said: "Efforts are being made to find and recover them."
British military sources in Qatar refused to confirm reports on the al-Jazeera television network that the two had been taken prisoner.
The men, who have not been named and whose units have not been identified, are the first British troops to be missing in action since the war began. Their relatives have been informed.
Tony Blair was making his first Commons statement since the conflict began as news came through of the first known British death in action.
Although the Prime Minister made no specific mention of the soldier's death, he was joined by other party leaders in praising the valour of servicemen and women and sending sympathy to the families of those who had died.
"They gave their lives for our safety," Mr Blair said. "They had the courage to take the ultimate risk in the service of their country and of those who value freedom everywhere in the world. We owe them an immense debt of gratitude."
The previous 16 British servicemen to die in the war were killed either in helicopter crashes or when an RAF Tornado was hit by an American missile.
The Ministry of Defence said that a few wounded British soldiers had been flown out of Iraq to Cyprus for treatment before being flown home.
But officials denied reports that bodies had also been taken to the base.
Regards, Ivan
In memoriam
We salute you and your countrymen, Ivan---with grateful hearts and sorrow for those who have given the last full measure of devotion.
Question, how is that an invading force can be ambushed, is there some rule of engagement that those being invaded must comply with?
From my own experience if someone attempted to invade my property, I would lie in wait and with all due diligence attempt to kill them without being killed, does that make me a terrorist, or merely dangerous?
Maybe you are putting too much of a nefarious meaning to ambush. In war, it probably is a good move to lie in wait and try to surprise the enemy. I wouldn't confuse "ambush" with "ruse" and "illegal" activities here.
We have heard about Iraqis acting as if they were going to surrender, only to open fire, or paramilitary thugs dressing as civilians. That is trickery. An ambush might mean only a strategic position to take advantage of the enemy.
War is full of danger. All our troops know one wrong turn could end in death or captivity.
I pray for those who have been captured that world opinion causes their captors to think seriously before they treat them inhumanely.
Regarding your "own experience" in guerilla warfare, well, I won't even go there. Suffice it to say, I will pray for these Brits we lost today as I would our own guys. And as for the likes of you, I shan't waste another breath....
Selah
Absolutely, Ivan. ~~ And, I hope you know how much we really love and thank the Brits fighting shoulder to shoulder with Americans.
The conventions about the conduct of war require that any and all fighters be easily visually distinguishable from the civilian population (wearing some sort of uniform even if it is an armband). It is also not permitted to use civilians as shields or cover.
This brings to mind an editorial written by two World War II resistance fighters during the Afghanistan campaign. They admitted to using civilians as cover to stalk Germans. They also admitted that the Germans would have been totally justified for shooting them on the spot, since they (the resistance) were not wearing uniforms.
From my own experience if someone attempted to invade my property, I would lie in wait and with all due diligence attempt to kill them without being killed, does that make me a terrorist, or merely dangerous?
Depends on what you do. You could end up as an unlawful combatant who the invaders can simply shoot without any repercussions even if your side wins (your behavior would be entered as exculpatory evidence by the defending lawyers).
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