Posted on 04/19/2008 7:18:10 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
The British-trained Iraqi Army's attempt to retake Basra from militiamen was an "unmitigated disaster at every level", British commanders have disclosed.
Senior sources have said that the mission was undermined by incompetent officers and untrained troops who were sent into battle with inadequate supplies of food, water and ammunition.
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They said the failure had delayed the British withdrawal by "many months".
Their comments came as the Iraqi army, this time directly supported by American and British forces, began a second operation in Basra in an attempt to find insurgent weapons caches.
The push, which was met with fierce resistance, took place in the Hayania district of the city, where there were clashes two weeks ago.
In the first operation, it is understood that one Iraqi brigade became a "busted flush" after 1,200 of its soldiers deserted.
At one stage during the battle, stories were circulating at the British headquarters that Iraqi troops were demanding food and water from coalition forces at gunpoint. "It was an unmitigated disaster at every level," an officer said.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
See my last post... post 65.
See my last post, post number 65.
Just to add that over 150 conventional British mentors are inside Basra along with Special Forces.
yeah mate, cheers.
My head hangs in shame, that I didn’t get the drift of it. Apologies mate
;)
This is how we should have been contesting the city since 04 or 05. If anything, I might argue our ‘withdrawal’, ‘redeployment’ or whatever you may call it, was late in coming.
Thanks for the addition UKS.
“Another Brit hater i see! Join the club. Its called FR!”
I like the Brits! And the UK! Great people in a great country. I have family there as well. And a piece of my heart will always be there.
Tonight I drink to my Brit brothers. God Bless and cheers!
Post 67 was directed towards FEE.
My angst is that our armed forces have always got a bad press in the US. Perhaps its historical bias. Perhaps you guys dont like how we go about things.
Just try not to believe everything you see and hear in the media. A tactical withdrawal outside the city of Basra by the Brits was somehow interpreted as a ‘retreat’. This simply isnt the case. We were becoming part of the problem, instead of part of the solution. Would people rather we ran the city as an overseas territory?
I agree, actually. But I think nearly every American has great respect for the British military... huge history (we’ve gotten over all that stuff in the past), honor and a willingness to pull the trigger. I worked with Brit forces in the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War and they were great. I suspect you guys have the same problem we do... Excellent military, mush headed politicians.
I never worried much about Basra. I figured you guys had it handled (and you did). Frankly, things were fine until al-Sadr decided he owned the city. But I never viewed that as a retreat. Rather it was a tactical move to test the Iraqi leadership in the city. And I make note of the fact that al-Sadr never tried this garbage while your boys were inside the city... he knows what would have happened. But even whilst your boys are posted outside the city he still hides in Iran. Your boys are in a position (and with sufficient force) to spank him and his goons and he knows it.
Cheers!
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