Just what the h#ll are you talking about? We gave them the MND SE (Basra AOR) to administer and just look how that turned out! They kept the administration to themselves and marginalized the locals who have a heavy Iranian influence. They chose not to confront the criminal syndicates and Iranians and were subsequently rolled up by the Al Quds, Mahdi and local Shia crime factions. In their aversion to battle and casualties they ended up losing face nearly every step along their way to be finally humiliated by piracy and confined to the airport!
Thank God we did things totally opposite from the Brits. We earned the respect of the Iraqis and now, grudgingly, the Iranians. And when we takeover the MND SE we'll have to clean up the mess they left behind which means stomping the now emboldend and coordinated Iranians, regional syndicates and local mobs and all their organizations in the AOR. It will be similar to the 2 years it took pacifying Anbar, maybe worse.
Sorry, I was being ironic. Andrew is saying we ought to have learned from their experience, and I was pointing out that the Brits have been with us all the way, so in fact we have taken advantage of whatever it is that the Brits bring to the table.
In other words, Andrew is full of it.
Whilst you have the right to critique British policy and ops in Iraq...to basically suggest they are weak cowards not wanting to fight is out of order.Well out of order.
Also,if we are being frank,the American army in Iraq tactically hasnt been THAT fantastically impressive either...