Army is forced to battle local rivalries (British troops struggles for security in Amarah, Iraq)

scotsman.com ^ | 2006 Feb | Gethin Chamberlain

[Wiz]

AL AMARAH is a particularly difficult and violent place to police. With an estimated population of about 400,000, it has a history of rule by rival sheikhs, each with their own private armies.

Even Saddam Hussein found it hard to maintain control over the Shia population and in 1999 he had to send in his Special Republican Guard to try to suppress a local uprising.

When British troops took over from United States forces at the end of the war, they attempted to work with the sheikhs to establish ground rules for local government. Initial attempts appeared to be successful and it was possible for soldiers to move about the town without helmets or body armour. But the situation quickly deteriorated as old rivalries came to the fore and British attempts to maintain the peace saw them become the target of attack.

As in other parts of Iraq, frustrations over unemployment and the failure to restore essential services played a part and, since early 2004, British troops have been involved in heavy fighting in and around the town.

[Wiz]

Amarah is probably the next to most hotile place after Basrah for British security force in Iraq. I did not look into casulaties data in depth, but often see reports of deaths British troops by road side bombs in Amarah as well as in Basrah. Amarah locates North of Basrah, and South of Baghdad, near the border of Iran. It is likely this area is one of the area where weapons are smuggling from Iran. While the west border shared with Syria is sealed after massive operations last year, it will also be a challenge to shut down access of terrorists from Iran aiding Iraq terrorists with equipment and weapons from Iran.

[2banana]

Interesting -

Amarah is close enough to sounding like Armagh - like in South Armagh where the IRA were very strong...

[pissant]

The UK papers' definition of heavy fighting is probably not what we would consider such.

[Wiz]

ping