Posted on 02/17/2006 11:28:48 AM PST by blam
Iran says UK must withdraw troops from Basra
Staff and agencies
Friday February 17, 2006
The Iranian foreign minister today demanded that Britain pull its troops out of the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Speaking during a visit to Lebanon, Manouchehr Mottaki said: "The Islamic Republic of Iran demands the immediate withdrawal of British forces from Basra." He said UK troops were destabilising the city.
The prime minister, Tony Blair, dismissed the comments as an attempt to "divert attention" from international concerns over Iran's stability.
Mr Blair today held talks with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, in Berlin, at which both leaders reiterated their determination to take a tough line over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
The prime minister said UK troops would stay in Iraq for as long as the Iraqi government wanted them to, adding: "British troops are in Iraq today under a United Nations mandate and with the consent of the Iraqi government. "They stay as long as the UN mandate is in place and the Iraqi government wishes us to stay."
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Interesting.
The Mullahs are going to have little sympathy in the world when it comes time to remove them from power.
Iran should micturate upon a length of hemp..
Is it just me, or does Ahmadinejad look like Gilligan with a beard?
This is interesting. Iran seems to have territorial ambitions.
One potential Iranian response if the US hits Iranian nuclear facilities is a ground assault to cut off Iraq (and US/allied forces) from gulf ports. Basra is a key location as it is near the best locations for crossing the Euphrates adn cutting off the gulf facilities. This was something they tried to do during the Iran/Iraq war. The Iranians don't want to have to engage a modern, well trained force as the Brits standing in the way.
MOAB the Mullahs!
Not good enough. They should show us they're really tough and run a tank brigade across the border to sweep the Brits away. Heck, a whole division. Those A-10's and Apaches are just there for bluff...trust me...
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