Further ignominious retreat of UK forces from Iraq - Brown slinks away
Sunday, September 03, 2006 Lord Patel remarked ..
"Far called, our Army melts away ....."
Lord Patel reviewed the fleeing overnight from Amara (provincial HQ of Maysan Province) of The Queens Royal Hussars from their camp Camp Abu Naji at Amara.
"We are repositioning our forces to focus on border areas and deal with reports of smuggling of weapons and improvised explosive devices from across the border," British military spokesman Major Charlie Burbridge told Reuters with a stiff upper lip at the time .
"British forces evacuated the military headquarters without coordination with the Iraqi forces," Dhaffar Jabbar, spokesman for the Maysan governor, told Reuters on Thursday, as looters began moving into the camp in the wake of the British withdrawal. A unit of Iraqi government troops mutinied when told to keep order at the base -" said another source.
That was just over a year ago and today ...
Three car bombs killed and injured at least 60 people in the southern Iraqi city of Amara, state television reported. The BBC citing police, put the toll at 39 people dead and more than 100 injured.
Two bombs detonated in a crowded parking lot, and a third exploded nearby as people gathered to inspect the damage, the BBC said. The attack took place at about 11 a.m. local time today.
...and...
Basra handover to Iraq on Sunday (BBC Online)
Mr Brown had said the handover would take place within two weeks
British forces will hand back control of security in Basra province to Iraq on Sunday, it has been confirmed.
Maj Shearer told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "We absolutely welcome the announcement that we are going to move to Iraqi provincial control on the 16th.
"That's a very positive step in the right direction and clear recognition that the security situation is such that the Iraqi security forces are able to take on that responsibility."
Not forgetting
 Britain may have to fight the Taleban for years to come |
The current level of 7,800 troops would be maintained, said Mr Brown, as part of the UK's "long term commitment".
He also announced £450m development funding and more equipment for troops.
1 comment:
Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Of course, Nineveh is a little farther north than most of our boys are situated but so what?? Tyre these days is stuffed with refugees.
The Postman's utterings remind me of another of the Nobel winner's plagiarisms
"That the dog returns to his vomit..."
And another thing. Why have "Blogger" changed things so's I can't put a link in my nic??
Durand
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