Brown gets his "Patraeus" report

Military commanders tell Brown to withdraw from Iraq without delay
By Raymond Whitaker and Robert Fox
Published: 19 August 2007
Senior military commanders have told the Government that Britain can achieve "nothing more" in south-east Iraq, and that the 5,500 British troops still deployed there should move towards withdrawal without further delay.

Last month Gordon Brown said after meeting George Bush at Camp David that the decision to hand over security in Basra province – the last of the four held by the British – "will be made on the military advice of our commanders on the ground". He added: "Whatever happens, we will make a full statement to Parliament when it returns [in October]."

Two generals told The Independent on Sunday last week that the military advice given to the Prime Minister was, "We've done what we can in the south [of Iraq]". Commanders want to hand over Basra Palace – where 500 British troops are subjected to up to 60 rocket and mortar strikes a day, and resupply convoys have been described as "nightly suicide missions" – by the end of August. The withdrawal of 500 soldiers has already been announced by the Government. The Army is drawing up plans to "reposture" the 5,000 that will be left at Basra airport, and aims to bring the bulk of them home in the next few months.
 
That, I think, is the best standard anyone -- ourselves included -- could apply to the situation in Iraq. Is there anything more that can be achieved? I'm impressed that the British generals looked at it so dispassionately and rationally.

Is there anything we can realistically achieve by staying in Iraq? All of the gloom and doom predictions of what will happen if we withdraw are largely irrelevant, because they don't address the question of whether postponing our withdrawal will make a damned bit of difference. Will staying another year or two actually achieve anything? Sadly, I'm afraid that the answer is no.

There's no way we can get all of our troops and material out of Iraq in anything less than a matter of months. For everyone's sake, including the safety of our own people, some sort of phased withdrawal makes far more sense than a simple run for the transports. Still, I no longer see any hope of accomplishing anything by delaying the start of the redeployment.
 
But now all our bushist arm chair generals know much more about the war than the commanders on the ground. Heck don't the Brits even let gays in their military ?
 
Yes, US, obviously most of the gays are in the navy but they have crept into the army now as well. The reduction in fighting capacity by around 5% due to decreased hetrosexuality may indeed have cost us ultimate victory, although our units are significantly better dressed nowadays.

In seriousness, the military top brass have been saying this for the last eighteen months, at least. When the current Army Chief took over he explicitly stated our presence was making the situation worse. If Brown could get out now he probably would but we have to preserve the vanity of the Whitehouse and maintain the "special relationship", no matter how abusive it has become.
 
although our units are significantly better dressed nowadays. :)

Of course I was beng sarcastic Charver.
Just stealing a neo's thunder.
 
uscitizen said:
But now all our bushist arm chair generals know much more about the war than the commanders on the ground. Heck don't the Brits even let gays in their military ?
Click to expand...

I prefer to call them Bushit arm chair generals. A small, but important distinction, I believe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top