Brits raise Union Jack in Basra

Reuters Photo ^

[saquin]

Unidentified Royal Marines sit with a British Union flag atop of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's palace at Basra in southern Iraq, April 7, 2003. British paratroopers guarded by tanks and helicopter gunships walked unopposed into the center of Iraq's second city of Basra on Monday, meeting a warm reception in the narrow streets of the old quarter. REUTERS /Jon Mills/POOL

[saquin]

Okay, how come when our guys try to raise the US flag it's seen as more evidence of us being "ugly Americans"?

[Fraulein]

ping

[Charles Henrickson]

All your Basra are belong to us.

[Semper Paratus]

It's not like it hasn't been done before in Basra.
Sun never sets, what.

[areafiftyone]

Yea. Our guys almost raised the flag on Saddam's Palace but thought better of it. Whats the deal here? This doesn't send a good message to the Iraqi people.

[Happygal]

Seems to me the guys put a flag up to get a photo taken..Kinda like a snap shot.

I doubt their command told them to run up the flag. Same way as the US command didn't tell the zealous US marines to do it when they did.

It's a thing of nuthin', I'd say.

[Hila]

Good for the Royal Marines, and our troops must raise our Old Glory wherever they feel like it. Enough of the political incorrectness.

[KingPin]

Ping for politically incorrect Brits.

[rrrod]

way to go royal marines!

[jlogajan]

Good for them. I'd like to see our guys do it too.

[mtbopfuyn]

Good for them. I'd like to see our guys do it too

Um, no. US Marines got in big trouble and the World got their panties in a wad over the Stars and Stripes being raised around day 2. The problem is we're there as liberators, not invaders. We aren't there to take over Iraq, but to free them. The Iraqi flag should remain flying.

[jlogajan]

PC bs. Our boys paid for that territory in blood. Let them celebrate.

[antaresequity]

Bad Form..And LtCnl Collins will be pissed off

Lieutenant-Colonel Tim Collins, commander 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment Battle Group

"...We go to liberate, not to conquer. We will not fly our flags in their country. We are entering Iraq to free a people and the only flag that will be flown in that ancient land is their own. Show respect for them...."

[undergroundwarrior]

What a beautiful flag. ALMOST as beautiful as 'Ol Glory.

Good job U.K.