Parachute Regiment band members perform during the hand-over ceremony
Posted on 06/29/2004 11:59:17 PM PDT by MadIvan
British soldiers guarding Chindit Camp near Basra yesterday had good reason to scan the shimmering mirage over the flat, dusty wasteland in front of them with extra vigilance.
Suicide bombers have come here before and yesterday provided an alluring target for bombers who seek to advance their cause by killing anyone in a uniform.
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Parachute Regiment band members perform during the hand-over ceremony |
An erratic blast of a police trumpeter accompanied by a drum roll announced one of the first steps of the coalition forces' transfer of power.
The regional police academy, which until yesterday was run by a British police officer, was handed over formally to the Iraqis and the Iraqi flag run up the pole.
The British see the academy as a symbol of their occupation of Iraq. So far the camp has trained 3,000 police officers in skills ranging from statement-taking to anti-terrorist operations.
That may be why suicide bombers tried to blow Chindit Camp to pieces. Two months ago, a double suicide attack killed 14 and injured 40 people at the base, including four Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Maj-Gen Andrew Stewart, the commander of coalition forces in south-east Iraq, who presided over the ceremony, tied Iraq's fortunes to that of the academy, saying he hoped that, as the academy had recovered from the attack, so too would "this great country" from its travails.
During the ceremony, news of an attack in Basra that left one British soldier dead and two wounded filtered through.
For many of the soldiers, the attack underlined their vulnerability in conducting the thankless task of providing security in Iraq.
Some 15 months after British forces first arrived, the transfer of Iraqi sovereignty was greeted with enthusiasm by commanders.
"It is great news," said Maj-Gen Stewart. "It is important for the Iraqis to govern themselves and, while we are still needed, for us to help them. It is a nation that has been thirsting for its freedom."
Security and the political culture in the British zone makes it almost another country from the American-controlled north.
"The effect of the transfer of power will be very different in different parts of the country. Particularly in the south-east where the conditions are even better for Iraqis to take on their responsibilities, I think Iraq will rise to the task and surprise many of us."
For British forces, the handover signals an immediate change of tactics. Col Gerhard Wheeler, commanding officer of 1 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers, said: "We want to get out of their faces. We will be here to advise and help. But we want it to be known that we are no longer a force of occupation."
Instead of focusing all their fire on terrorists in the low-level insurgency, the British Army has focused on local government and developing Iraqi security services.
Although British commanders privately admit they will remain the de facto power in Iraq until elections in January, they believe the thousands of Iraqi Civil Defence Corps members, border guards and police are ready. They admit they still lack equipment and manpower.
Now the British will take one further step back switching from "mentoring to monitoring" the Iraqi forces.
British units will cut back on patrols and centralise bases to lower further the British profile.
Going out on patrol over the last few days with the men of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the region south of Basra, it was easy to see how low key is the British face-to-face, soft-cap approach.
"My men in Alamara have been under daily attack and they have shown enormous restraint," said Maj-Gen Stewart. "They have made a difference. And they have received scant recognition."
Patrolling in pairs of unobtrusive Land Rovers and armed mainly with SA80 rifles, soldiers have built up a reasonable relationship with local people.
While news coverage has focused on casualties and allegations of mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners, British soldiers have been quietly organising electricity, water and sanitation projects.
"It is not much but they are a start in a devastated country," said Capt Richard Moger, of the Household Cavalry Regiment. "Both Iraqis and ourselves are sometimes frustrated at the pace of progress."
Setting off with some bemused Iraqi police on the order of "Chaps, we're going on a foot patrol", Capt Moger's men distributed leaflets about the transfer of power and note down locals' complaints.
Along the course of the bordertown Safwan's market, Kasim Hussein, 77, selling melons, said: "Everything is calm. The British should go now. They will create more problems. We are a tribal society."
Indeed the main source of instability in the region is hijacking, kidnapping and tribal disputes. "When I meet tribal leaders, I say: 'I cannot attract foreign investors because you keep kidnapping them'," said Col Wheeler.
The colonel, who has been made an honorary sheikh by one local tribe, has tried to encourage the local wish for town council elections in Zubayr, which has a population of 200,000. However, their efforts have been frustrated by disagreements between Sunni and Shia leaders.
Zubayr is a city where there is a constant threat of roadside bombs. "It was the last place I expected to see the green shoots of democracy," said the sheikh-colonel.
British expectations are consciously low and accurately reflect local feeling.
While officers and Iraqi new leadership work out the new status quo, one British trooper had a terser summary of Iraq. "It's f****** hot. It's f****** s***. And it's not worth the blood of a single Welshman."
And John Kerry doesn't even acknowledge your existence, sir.
Just thought you lot might want to know what the British forces are up to in this.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
Cheers.
There's a reason why Australian and British soldiers have featured so infrequently in casualties in the war against terror (sheer dumb luck being one of them, in Australia's case, after some numbskull on the ground shot at one of the RAAF's C-130's just out of Baghdad airport the other day - and killed another American, God bless his soul) and I don't think it's simply because we feature so lowly in the actual troops-on-the-spot.
Both Britain and Australia are countries where guns are more highly controlled than in the US - yes, "everyone has the right to defend themselves" as I've been told constantly on this forum, but does that really have to be with a gun?
And it seems those with guns in Iraq (whether they be Iraqis or other troublemakers from Arab lands) are not being checked. I say they SHOULD BE checked... and that civilians should not have rocket-launchers, automatic weapons and such other firearms which have caused the Americans (and the rest of the coalition of the willing) such havoc.
Just a thought. And I have my flameproof underwear and overproof rum at the ready, should anyone choose to attack my thoughts on this... ;-)
The Americans are just not an imperial power and never have been - their military is more geared up to utterly destroy the enemy than to be a force of occupation. This is not a criticism, this is just a comment on the different perceptions of what an army can and should be doing.
Regards, Ivan
No offence Ivan, but your Winston Churchill got it horribly wrong in World War One... at the expense of many in the "Empire" (my direct family is made up of Australians and New Zealanders, so you can understand the bitterness... I hope)
You're referring to Gallipoli. I believe Winston felt that was a mistake as well - we should keep in mind that great men do make great mistakes too, and mistakes can be huge tragedies.
I do understand and I'm not unsympathetic. The only thing I don't understand is why you have to send us that bloody awful Foster's lager in revenge. ;)
Regards, Ivan
I rather like Guinness, but there is a proviso to that - the good Guinness is all in Ireland. Now if this is a plot by the Irish to attain vengeance on the world, who can say - certainly the absolutely worst Guinness is sent to the UK!
Regards, Ivan
I beg to disgagree. I am one with a strong stomach for liquor - yet the Guinness I've sampled in both Australia and New Zealand made me want to (how to put this delicately) spend the rest of the night in the loo...
I believe the technical term is "worship the porcelain god". ;)
Regards, Ivan
ONE of the technical terms. These days I stick to Bailey's...
or one of Fosters' sister products ;-)
Crown lager, presumably. :)
Regards, Ivan
Carlton Cold is rather nice, too. A Northern Terriory girlfriend and I polished a sixpack of those off in no time at all, last week!
I haven't had Carlton Cold yet, must give that a try...I hope I don't have to take out a loan to do so. ;)
Regards, Ivan
Jameson's, thank you very much. Well, and the occasional martini.
We don't see enough of these sorts of stories. The tribal comments are interesting. If the Iraqis are going to have any sort of prosperity, the tribal mentality and old world plundering is going to have to wane.
Yep. The desperados in Iraq have 'em, so the ordinary citizens need some effective protection. Iraq would put the Wild West to shame.
Americans performing house-to-house searches have often left citizens with their AK-47s and shotguns in recognition of their right to self-defense and as a demonstration that they do not consider average Iraqis to be the enemy.
I bet you look cute in your flameproof undies!
Why does a Utah resident imagine me in my undies?
Looking for a third wife, perhaps? If so, look elsewhere sir... (I might JUST consider it if you were still living in Oregon or Texas, depending on which part of which state, but UTAH? I've seen "Angels In America", I know all I need to know...)
One which can support me in the manner to which I was once accustomed...in Oregon.
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