Sunday Times 19 Aug
Gentleman Aviator
As I mentioned before, when we pulled out of Aden we had about FIVE flat tops out there.
... you've left it wide open for WebFoot to save the day by getting the SHARs back from the scrappy.......
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Here & There
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With respect to all the commentators here but the situation in Basra just isn't the same as that faced by the americans oop narth. Regrettably we, the Brits, are the problem in Basra. They aren't attacking each other like the Sunni and Shia in Baghdad and elsewhere. The Baswari are not even attacking the ISF/IA when they take over our old camps (Shiaba, SAAH etc). The only violence (apart from some criminal activity) is aimed at us...we are the problem. The hand over of Basrah Palace has been planned for some considerable while (and announced by the GOI some time ago). An Iraqi force is preparing itself to take over the guarding duties and by all accounts are unlikely to have problems with the populace. The COB , however, is likely to get even more incoming than it has had in the past....although there is a bit of a lull at the moment.
So...should we stay and continue to be the problem? With the British mission of preparing the IA to do the job (and 10 Div IA has shown themselves to be relatively competent) why would we want to stay?
There is a lot of spin in the American newspapers at the moment, they are patently a little jittery that their 'best buddy' may be about to leave because there is little more that can realistically be achieved in the south (as we are the focus of violence).
Smudge
So...should we stay and continue to be the problem? With the British mission of preparing the IA to do the job (and 10 Div IA has shown themselves to be relatively competent) why would we want to stay?
There is a lot of spin in the American newspapers at the moment, they are patently a little jittery that their 'best buddy' may be about to leave because there is little more that can realistically be achieved in the south (as we are the focus of violence).
Smudge
