US troops to help 'deluded' British in southern Iraq

superdude17* · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 07:53 PM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...hern-Iraq.html

Quote:

American troops will be deployed to southern Iraq this summer with orders to adopt a more robust approach than the "self-delusional" British.

A senior US officer has told the Telegraph that Iraqi troops had not been ready to assume responsibility for Basra when British forces withdrew late last year.

He also said that US commanders in Iraq believe the Shia south is ready to copy the developments that transformed the western province of Anbar from being the main hotbed of insurgency into one of Iraq's most peaceful regions. To foster this change, US troops are moving south for the first time since the 2003 war.

"There's going to be a whole new approach when we send troops down there," said the US officer.

"We won't take the self-delusional route of convincing ourselves that the Iraqis are ready to fight but then standing back while they fall apart.

"They're not ready and we have to be more proactive. There's too much at stake."

Britain has been in charge of four provinces in southern Iraq since Saddam Hussein's downfall. While the divisional command will continue to operate under British leadership at Basra airbase, the orders of the US units will be to "get out front" and resume patrols and combat missions.

US hopes of making the whole of Iraq secure before its eventual withdrawal have been raised by what commanders see as a potential southern version of the Sahwa, or tribal awakening, which turned locals against al-Qa'eda.

Troops have been shifted from Anbar province to the Tallil airbase, Nasiriya, to assume responsibility from 550 Australian troops pulling out of the country.

According to the US assessment, the Australians followed the mistakes of the British by pulling back to "overwatch" local forces but then neglecting the security challenges in the area.

The US officer said its allies had adopted a "University of Arizona" attitude - American slang for being rigid and unimaginative. "There's dirty work to be done and we've got to go forward to it," he said.

Good. The only way to clean up Basra is to go out and confront the enemy.

And the Brits aren’t too keen on that method.

The Brits, while we appreciate their support, need to retrain their troops in fighting methods, b/c they have become quite weak.

lunecat · #2 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 10:51 PM

I have agree with you there.

The British troops are doing good work in Afghanistan - But there is still need for a more active role in Southern Iraq.

Although I understand there are several British special forces operations in partnership with other coallition partners taking place throughout Iraq, also the RAF undertake active missions providing air support.

Also, during the recent fighting in Basra some British artillary units were actively shelling millitia positions.

But a more hands on role would be better

Fear-And-Loathing · #3 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superdude17*

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...hern-Iraq.html

Good. The only way to clean up Basra is to go out and confront the enemy.

And the Brits aren’t too keen on that method.

The Brits, while we appreciate their support, need to retrain their troops in fighting methods, b/c they have become quite weak.

The problem is that Britain's PM has to take into account the domestic opinion for the war in Iraq when thinking about troop deployments etc. Afghanistan is seen as more just than Iraq over here and this is reflected in British troop deployments. This Summer there will be a further 7000 Royal Marine Commando's deployed, arguably the best stand alone force in the world (for it's size). In America however, Iraq is the main focus.

Don't blame the British military, it's the government. When thinking of insurgencies, who dya think is better? Britain with its empire (which proved it was adept at quelling natives) or America a country that has infantile imperial ambitions and knowledge?

Bit of a no brainer really.....

Did you know that the way US troops cleared Baghdad and Anbar was taken directly from the British? The British fought against a guerrila foe for 80 years in Northern Ireland, it knows its fair share about this type of thing.

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