You're welcome, my pleasure :-) I would wish to suggest, however, that my perception is that far more than "some" in America appreciate our brave armed forces, on both sides of the Pond. Sadly, I think that the easy ability to become overheated on public internet forums may leave an impression that there is some sort of widespread dissatisfaction among us Yanks with our dear British Friends....I have not seen that to be the case out in the real world. No worries :-)
Britain is still with you in the South.
Agreed, and I've seen no plans or suggestion of plans for any sort of an abrupt, precipitous exit from the region either. In fact, the Basra forces have stayed quite a bit longer than what was suggested last year, obviously because there was an interest in doing things properly and not moving out when the time wasn't right.
Beckett Basra hand-over by spring (Great Britain's Foreign Secretary plans rapid exit strategy)
I would like to second UK’s comments. Good thread. If there is one thing we can rely on with the Sun its supporting our troopers regardless of the politics, and a nice Page3...
I have been having some heated arguments with others regarding the supposed ‘retreat’ to Basra Air Station. To my way of thinking, if the IA can do a decent job in Basra City, that leaves 5,000 troops to protect supply convoys and conduct other operations rather than urban policing.
Good point about the media. The press has been reporting a British withdrawal as being imminent about every few months for the last few years. I remember before the last troop cuts the UK media was reporting that there would be dramatic reductions in UK numbers. Didn’t happen. Now UK troops have been redeployed 5 ks and the papers cry ‘we were right all along: the end is nigh!’