Posted on 08/15/2008 4:10:10 AM PDT by Renfield
Three years ago this month, American freelance journalist Steven Vincent was kidnapped and murdered in Basra, Iraq, a port city then under British military control. His murder occurred as Britain's military -- as Vincent had earlier reported -- was turning a blind eye to the rise of menacing Shiite religious groups, including those of bellicose rebel cleric Moktada al-Sadr.
Now, three years later, the ineptitude of British forces in Basra has boiled over into a full-fledged scandal in Britain, as today's Wall Street Journal notes in an editorial, "Basra and the Brits." The scandal concerns the failure of British military forces to lift a finger to help Iraq's Army prevail in a pivotal battle earlier this year. Explains the WSJ:....
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
How the worm has turned.
I recall that, not so long ago, the Brits were lecturing us about their “softly, softly” method of pacification and trumpeting their success in Basra.
Another of these stories?!
They seem to be two to a penny here on FR. Popular topic no doubt, with we Brits getting slammed day in, day out. There is some validity to it, but then there is only so much you can say before you lot just start repeating yourselves.
Judging by the responses, you might have missed the boat.
British allies in Iraq... hmmm, British allies in Iraq. Oh, you mean all those women that are afraid to fight a little bit... the ones that make deals with terrorists so that the terrorists won’t hurt them? The British allies that cower behind their razor wire while others are doing the actual fighting? You mean THOSE British allies in Iraq?
Most all of us are loyal and committed friends and allies to the Brits.
Your military may have been punching above its weight due to its size (smaller than the USMC), but nonetheless, they are quite professional and highly capable.
I'd say, in my 20-plus years with the military and in the defense industry, the British military are truly peer to the US military (or is that vice-versa?).
Regards,
Hulka, FRAeS
Are you saying we Americans aren’t slammed on a daily basis in Britain? Unfortunately, there are those on both sides of the pond that engage in this kind of activity. Not to mention there are those in Britain that slam Britain, as well as, those in America that slam America. Frustrating perhaps, but an inevitability in free societies.
Americans don’t really know the Brits.
Any ex-colonial will tell you that speaking with both sides of your mouth and double crossing allies was part of the British colonial experience.
My parents come from Nigeria, the Brits cut all sorts of shady deals with dodgy figures there. The Brits did it India, Malaysia, Sudan, Kenya ....
Old habits die hard.
How do you think the Brits were able to control a sixth of the Earth’s surface?
(N.B: Foreign policy consists mainly of solving problems created by the British Empire - Americans will be advised to take a FRESH look at foreign policy challenges. Do NOT assume that Brits have a handle on how to solve these problems).
Sure, but you should post what you want to, what is needed. Not in response to supposed slights an ocean away.
Well, Mercia, for every one American bashing the Brits’ effort in Iraq there are 5 million Americans bashing American efforts in Iraq. I dunno it should make you feel any better, though.
(Keep the faith.)
Thanks.
Smaller than the USMC???!! Wow. I had no idea the Corp was that large. Impressive.
Below is a link to an article that tells of the impending withdrawal of British troops in Iraq. These will then be sent to where it matters. Afghanistan.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article4534985.ece
Does the America- and Brit bashing ever stop?
Now, the bash du jour is to say Russia’s invasion of Georgia is no different than the US action in Iraq. Does Georgia have a general whose nickname is Chemical Ali? Do they have a Mrs. Anthrax on their payroll?
When does it stop?
Sorry, but our past has very little to dow with the actual present. A bit of pragmatism? Why not, you can’t live of rhetoric all your life.
I would argue that you Sir, also don’t ‘know’ ‘Brits’.
Useless, idiot comment.
keep the faith.....gotcha.
With all due respect sir, your comment is idiotic.
Your past has LOT to do with your present.
There are many things that are done PRESENTLY by Her Majesty’s Government that are frankly speaking, despicable (e.g. The Saudi Arms deal and the bribing accompanying it, the shady characters banking in the city of London etc).
The Americans are no Swedes but at least they tend to say what they mean and mean what they say a bit more often than Her Majesty’s Government.
Move your head out of the sand.
Saudi Arms deal? Ahh, you mean legally selling planes and stuff to Arabia, while sealing the deal with some business incentives???
This is how the world works. Every single comapny man who reads these threads knows that this is the case. Especially when dealing with the Sauds. The only complaint form others is that we got there first.
Shall we British assume that the Germans are going to attack? that happened in the past. Shall we British assume that the Americans are going to wage antoher war of independence? that happened in the past. Shall the people of Africa assume that Colonialism is going to take root again and we start deporting its peoples to land afar? that happened in the past too.
You can only comment on something when you know facts and figures, until then its all wild, groundless speculation. You have an axe to grind Sir, so leave it out yeah?
Just my opinion, the best thing the Brits ever did was take over the world. The worst thing they ever did was give it up (US excepted, of course).
Cheers
I have a good first hand knowledge of British dealings in Africa in the post-colonial era. I know the role the Nigerian civil war and I know the role they are playing in the Niger Delta.
(I worked with Shell in the Niger Delta).
The Brits may be better than the French, but that is a small consolation.
Britain has a goos relationship with Nigeria and contributes a great deal to its infrastucture and economy.
Are you suggesting that British companies have been negotiating with Niger Delta terrorists? And if so, to what end?
I would suggest that you simply don’t like anything that isn’t US, and you appear to have a special hatred of all things European.
First the disgrace of the once mighty British navy surrendering to the Iranians, and now the once-proud British army gives the Mahdi army free reign.
EXACTLY.
We never left the base !
Those 170 dead were killed in a series of freak shaving accidents !
FACT.
No really. Where did the Saudis get those 700+ M1 and M60 tanks from ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabian_Army
Not from America obviously, because that would be, you know, despicable.
So where did they come from ?
You may notice though that most of the critisim of US actions is blamed on politicians, especially non republican.
US armed forces rarely are blamed for any setback.
Contrast that from the terms used by this “American Thinker” whos musings are generally posted by the same person who directly says that British forces are inept.
No thought is given by this “American Thinker” that British forces were involved as much as the Iraqi’s wanted them to be ie they were not consulted or involved in the recent Basra operations at all, for reasons that are not clear.
And the Saud’s will have got incentives and all that for buying US tanks and military equipment. Its the way everyone in the world does business.
Otherwise, where’s the fun!
One wishes the truth of the actual performance of the British forces was more clearly and honestly reported-—from all sides.
I truly wish the British left-wing (people/media/academia) would be a lot more patriotic than they are and report fairly and with pride, support with actions and words, defend them instead of attack them.
The left-wing in the US knows they would get hammered for not supporting the troops if they blamed the US forces for a set-back, lesson from Vietnam and all that. Sad thing is, for the British left-wing they have not had their Vietnam moment where they would be called to task for undermining the bravest and the best of the UK.
Criticise the politicians who send them to Iraq then hamstring them.
Criticise senior commanders.
But dont ever criticise the men and women on the ground, who have fought alongside you and died in Iraq.
If you truly think they are cowards, then you sir, are a f***ing idiot.
And probably a lifelong armchair general.
I’m one of many Americans who will always remember that Britain has stood by our side in Iraq. My personal thanks go out to the British troops risking life and limb in this front of the Long War on Islamic Terror.
Thank you.
And god bless your troops, may they come home victorious and safe.
Believe me, NO ONE is more angry at stories like this than we British ourselves...
Oh, but I AM criticizing the politicians and leaders. The common soldier is not a target. And if you think I AM attacking the regula soldier then it is YOU who are the fucking idiot.
Oh yeah, like you were clear.
All anyone read in that post was a rant against British cowards, and specifically the British seemingly cowering in Iraq.
Do you make a noise when you back up that quickly?...
‘The British allies that cower behind their razor wire while others are doing the actual fighting?’
Aye, you werent referring to the soldiers, no sir...
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