Paul Lowe, right, with cousin Barry, left, and brother Craig. Paul was killed two days ago. Picture: Tim Ockenden/ PAPosted on 11/06/2004 1:58:09 PM PST by dinok
Paul Lowe, right, with cousin Barry, left, and brother Craig. Paul was killed two days ago. Picture: Tim Ockenden/ PA
THE killers of the British hostage Kenneth Bigley last night claimed responsibility for the suicide attack on the Black Watch in Iraq in which three soldiers died.
The followers of the Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said they carried out the bombing on Thursday, according to a statement on an Islamic website.
Iraq’s most wanted group made the chilling claim as a bitter political row broke out at home over the regiment’s re-deployment in support of American troops.
On a day when the 12-year-old daughter of Sergeant Stuart Gray broke down while laying flowers in her father’s memory there were vitriolic political exchanges, in particular between Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, and the SNP leader, Alex Salmond.
The veteran nationalist said "a tide of anger" was sweeping across Scotland, and repeated accusations that the Black Watch’s deployment into the Sunni Triangle near Baghdad had been a political favour to the US president, George Bush.
A furious Mr Hoon said Mr Salmond’s remarks "demonstrate clearly there are no depths to which he will not sink", and accused him of trying to score political points over the deaths of Sgt Gray, 31, Private Scott McArdle, 22, and Private Paul Lowe, 19, all from Fife.
Meanwhile in Iraq, the Black Watch’s commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel James Cowan said that while the regiment was "saddened" over the loss of their comrades in the suicide-bomb attack and ambush, they would "not be deterred from seeing our task through".
(Excerpt) Read more at news.scotsman.com ...
"The followers of the Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi .."
The title should read: al-Qaeda of Iraq claim responsibility ...
After all that is their official title, despite the efforts of the newspaper headline line writers.
It had a nice side benefit of providing a base of operations for which to engage the IslamoFascists and convince Saudi Arabia to turn away from AQ, which they did.
That applies to American troops for American leaders. UK troops are free to bad mouth Bush who is not their Commander in Chief.
Re: WMD - all investigations indicate he had none any longer - what Saddam was protecting was the technology needed to restart the WMD programs up again.
I agree. But there are some here that freak out if you don't walk in lock step with the rest.
This is about as ignorantly wrong as anything that has ever been posted on Free Republic, not to detract in any way from the honor owing to my valliant RAF cousins.
What help was provided in the Battle of Britain that the British did not have to pay for to the Americans? Roosevelt made the British give up whole sections of empire for any material aid and beyond some Yanks who joined up the RAF (and became criminals to the State Dept) what help did come Britain's way?
I admire the British and have enjoyed being in England ever time I get to visit. The food is even improving. Don't start a bunch of ignorant nonsense and make me start Brit-bashing. Please. I would ask you, however, just exactly how many more years do you believe the British Empire could have continued to survive, even without WWII. The lychpin, India, would have been gone more quickly had WWII not hapened.
Funny how that works. When I served with British sailors I was not free to bad mouth Thatcher who was not my commander in chief.
You seem to blend the Battle of Britain with all of WW2. In any case if let us say America did not enter the war - Germany would still not have invaded the UK even if the UK lost her empire (which by the way Hitler did not want to end) and thus the British people - including Scotland "would not be speaking German" as teh above poster claimed.
and
B) Served as in onboard a British vessel? I don't remember but in the UK the Royals are your Commander in Chief not the PM and in any case serving on a British ship means you follow the British chain of command.
No I haven't. A cousin was killed flying Spitfires. Your revisionism forces one to unearth ghosts that should stay burried. Just leave it all alone.
I said I served with Brits. I did not say I served under Brits. UK is a wonderful place. Your loud yap and small mind are not doing anyone a service.
Destro!
For goodness sake, give it a rest!! I know you feel strongly, but you have been all over these Arafat/Muslim/ pro-destructo threads all day!! Go to bed and give yourself some sanity!
No revisionisim is on your part - you tell me how America helped in the Battle of Britain? Secondly you provided no details regarding your "served" comment. Was it told to you to not bad mouth Thatcher? How did such knowledge come about?
Bored at the home working online. Ive been on just 3 threads with running commentary.
Well he certainly wont have hung around long, what with all of our stupid public announcements about how "the attack is coming soon". I don't recall us annoucing the landing at Normandy.
"...stupid public announcements..."
What in the heck is going on with our military? Whoever is designing this strategy and blabbing about it should be asked a few questions starting with "WHY ADVERTISE IT"?
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND GIVING THE TERRORISTS ALL THIS TIME TO ESCAPE...now they've just dispersed into more areas and will kill more! What is up? All this does not sound like military planners of old!
I hate to say this, but I get the feeling Zarqawi's crew itentionally targeted the Black Watch to affect the current situation. They want to sow dissent and cracks in the Coalition, and hopefully bring about a new government in the UK that will pull out of Iraq. Why else target a new unit moved at the behest of teh United States?
I also have the feeling that Zarqawi has fled Fallujah. It's typical of these leaders to flee and leave their sheep-like followers to do the fighting and dying for them.
These scumbags are too cowardly to face the Black Watch in battle like Men but scurry around in the dark like the Rats they are. Sneaks, no Bravehearts, can never win because they abhor valor and the light.
Our wonderful allies died for Liberty and Justice and their deaths will further achievement of those goals. Our tears mingle with those of our brave allies for our mutual losses sacrificed for victory.
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