is it running or withdrawing.. your opinion pleas..
2007-09-04 07:27:53 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The British troop withdrawal from Basra is part of the overall plan of British troop reduction that Tony Blair announced more than a year ago (he announced for 5,500 troop reduction that will be implemented in stages that is to be completed by the end of 2007). Remember that the first phase was completed last February with the removal of about a thousand troops. Although Tony Blair is not the British Prime Minister anymore, the plan didn't change even when Gordon Brown took over the British government's leadership. Therefore, that plan still holds true, unless Gordon Brown changes it on the contrary, which is very unlikely. As Tony Blair and the top British military commanders originally laid out the plan, those troops that will be withdrawn from Iraq will be re-deployed to Afghanistan, which is the more sensible way to fight the war against terrorism. The pacification of Basra will be the eventual responsibility of the Iraqi military, who had been trained and prepared to take over that task.
2007-09-04 22:49:27 · answer #1 · answered by Botsakis G 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How would you know the difference, you just hit the reset button on your computer games?
Do you actually have any experience of life in the military or only in your virtual world??
Its a planned withdrawal back from Basra Palace to the main British HQ at the airbase.
The British were coming under sniper fire everyday at the Palace, mainly because the locals resented such an iconic location being used by the British, it reminded them of the old Colonial days.
The British have not left Basra, they still send out Patrols and are available to back up the local security forces.
What seems to piss a lot of the yanks off is the fact that the British have completed their mission as was set out originally. Now its time for the US forces to follow their example and get the Iraqi Police and Army up to speed in the US areas.
2007-09-04 07:59:05 · answer #2 · answered by conranger1 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I believe the Brits are withdrawing. They have had enough of being involved in what is now a no win situation. We Americans should thank them for their support, wish them God speed, and then pray that they will continue to support us when so many we have helped in the past turn their backs.
2007-09-04 08:01:40 · answer #3 · answered by RUESTER 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It is a military retreat due to homefront political pressure. In the last 5 months, it is has resulted in 3 months of higher than average KIA rates in Iraq, including the highest number since the invasion was complete.
You'd think they had learned that appeasement does not work, given Neville Chamberlain's results.
The Brit military can do great things if the sheep on the island let them do their jobs.
2007-09-04 07:48:21 · answer #4 · answered by John T 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Its withdrawing, and it was done much too late. Democracy is not for everyone. Everything that has been said about this war has been said, whatever true reasons we are there for are no longer justified and failure is due to our impotent and corrupt administration, the leaders in Iraq were no help either. What a fuc*ing waste of life and money and for what? Does anyone know?
2007-09-04 07:43:53 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Redeploying and waking up to the fact that Bush and Co. ignored and distorted intelligence provided by the CIA, which lead to the horrific quagmire that Iraq is today.
2007-09-04 08:56:18 · answer #6 · answered by Yahoo Sucks 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No,just turned territory over to Iraqi troops.
2007-09-04 08:44:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Withdrawing.
The British Military does what the British Government tells them - that's how it's done today and how it's been done throughout history. That's how it works.
I don't understand or identify with the word "running" - explain please?
2007-09-04 08:14:47 · answer #8 · answered by Monty S 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Unfortunately, it appears as though the last of the Britons who possessed the drive, intelligence, national pride, and foresight that made Briton a global superpower for hundreds of years died in the battles of the Second World War, leaving mostly weak, unindustrious, multiculturalized, homosexual, girly-men (aka. The Beatles) to inhabit that island.
It is therefore no wonder that the British have decided to cut-and-run as opposed to fulfilling their duty as a civilized nation and help bring democracy and civilization to those who have been denied these gifts.
2007-09-04 07:41:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 5⤋
. . Maybe Mr Brown has realized that we should not have sent our lads there in the first place, and withdrawing gradually is the only answer. the only person who has run away in this conflict is Tony (no guts) Blair.
2007-09-04 07:42:41 · answer #10 · answered by alf w 3 · 2⤊ 4⤋