FURIOUS BUSH, AGAINST BRITS PULLING UP STICKS
ElParedon
This is London,
September 2, 2007
British troops pulled out of their besieged base in central Basra last
night.
The move to the city's airport is the clearest sign yet that Gordon
Brown is paving the way for a complete withdrawal from Iraq.
The last 550 troops in Basra Palace had been surrounded by Shia
militants in a scene likened to "cowboys and Indians".
Now all Britain's 5,500 troops in Iraq will be consolidated in the
sprawling base at the airport, itself under daily mortar attack.
Downing Street said the withdrawal from Basra Palace was part of the
continuing process of handover to Iraqi forces.
But the move produced an angry reaction in Washington. Bush
administration officials were furious that the operation was launched at a
time when the president is begging for more time for his 'surge' strategy to
turn the tide of the war.
Although the Prime Minister refuses to say when he will order UK
troops home, observers believe the stage is set for a fullscale pull-out -
and a serious rift in the special relationship with the U.S.
Former Labour defence minister Peter Kilfoyle last night predicted a
complete withdrawal of British troops by Christmas.
He said: "Now the troops are out of the palace, that only leaves the
airbase. The Americans are going to be very disconcerted by this move, which
is long overdue."
Labour MP Kevan Jones, who recently visited Basra, welcomed the
decision to pull out of the palace. He said deliveries of supplies to the
garrison had been "nightly suicide missions".
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "This is not an unexpected
move, but the families of the personnel involved will want to know that
every possible precaution has been taken to maximise their safety.
"Our troops must not be put at needless risk to satisfy the political
needs of Gordon Brown's Government, any moves must be based upon the
military reality on the ground."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "The inevitable
retreat from central Basra underlines the futility of the continuing British
presence in Iraq.
"We have heard from the most senior British military voices their
concern about the lack of post-invasion planning.
"Nothing confirms that more than the fact the British troops will now
be confined to Basra airport, an area which is impossible to defend and from
where they cannot conceivably carry out any useful military function other
than training the Iraqi army."
The last troops in the palace were the 4th Battalion The Rifles battle
group, which is based in Bulford, Wiltshire. They had been there since
mid-May.
The Defence Ministry said the base would be handed over to Iraqi
authorities "in the next few days", but eyewitnesses said Iraqi troops were
already there last night.
Basra is the last of five provinces in the UK's sphere of operations
in southern Iraq which has yet to move to local Iraqi control.
In the others, British forces play only an 'overwatch' role.
That involves some training and supervision of local forces and a
readiness to move in to support Iraqi military and police if necessary.
Mr Brown has said Basra would move to 'overwatch' as soon as
conditions allowed.
He has insisted that UK forces will stay in Iraq to fulfil Britain's
obligations to the government and people there and the United Nations.
Downing Street said last night that an overall reduction in troops in
Iraq would "depend on the assessment of commanders on the ground over the
coming weeks and months".
Kevan Jones, a member of the Parliamentary defence committee, said:
"These plans have been in place for some time and we were told that
September was going to be the time.
"The operational reasons for being in Basra Palace were negligible, so
the withdrawal is not going to affect the security situation. It will
certainly reduce the number of our troops being used as targets."
American officials say the withdrawal means Britain has effectively
accepted defeat in southern Iraq.
Last month General Jack Keane, a former vice-chief of staff of the
U.S. Army, said there was 'frustration' in Washington at the deteriorating
security situation in the British-run area.
The withdrawal means the end of a British presence in Basra for the
first time since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Attacks on British troops have surged recently, with 41 killed in
southern Iraq this year, the highest number since the first year of the war.
Basra, Iraq's second largest city, is strategically vital as the hub
of oilfields that produce nearly all the country's revenue. It is also a key
centre for imports and exports.
The city has been torn by a battle for supremacy between Shia
militias, including supporters of cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr and groups backed
by Iran.
Residents say there is now a fragile calm, but there are fears that
the British withdrawal will be followed by an upsurge in violence.
Ratso
"ElParedon" <ser...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:FaKCi.50822$U24....@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
> Bush furious as British troops pull out of Basra
> This is London,
>
>
>
> September 2, 2007
>
>
> British troops pulled out of their besieged base in central Basra
> last night.
>
> The move to the city's airport is the clearest sign yet that Gordon
> Brown is paving the way for a complete withdrawal from Iraq.
>
> The last 550 troops in Basra Palace had been surrounded by Shia
> militants in a scene likened to "cowboys and Indians".
>
> Now all Britain's 5,500 troops in Iraq will be consolidated in the
> sprawling base at the airport, itself under daily mortar attack.
>
> Downing Street said the withdrawal from Basra Palace was part of the
> continuing process of handover to Iraqi forces.
>
> But the move produced an angry reaction in Washington. Bush
> administration officials
All jews no doubt.
were furious that the operation was launched at a
> time when the president is begging for more time for his 'surge' strategy
> to turn the tide of the war.
>
> Although the Prime Minister refuses to say when he will order UK
> troops home, observers believe the stage is set for a fullscale pull-out -
> and a serious rift in the special relationship with the U.S.
Bush is on his way out like Blair :o)
Fred Williams
> Bush furious as British troops pull out of Basra
> This is London,
>
It must be a good move then, (as if we didn't know that anyway).
> But the move produced an angry reaction in Washington. Bush
> administration officials were furious that the operation was launched
> at a time when the president is begging for more time for his 'surge'
> strategy to turn the tide of the war.
>
It's to have more troops so he can invade Iran as well and heap
destruction and death on that country. Britain's withdrawal means more
protection for the Iranians, another positive outcome.
> Although the Prime Minister refuses to say when he will order UK
> troops home, observers believe the stage is set for a fullscale
> pull-out - and a serious rift in the special relationship with the
> U.S.
>
Yay! The unholy alliance is coming apart.
> Former Labour defence minister Peter Kilfoyle last night
> predicted a
> complete withdrawal of British troops by Christmas.
>
Why wait till Christmas? Are they saying, "We want to do the right
thing, but we don't want to be too quick about it?"
>
> Residents say there is now a fragile calm, but there are fears
> that
> the British withdrawal will be followed by an upsurge in violence.
What do they think: That Iraqis might hurt their feet while dancing in
the streets?
--
Regards,
Fred
<http://www.fredwilliams.ca/thesecretofmoney.html>