Seventeen to Go

14 July 2006



Brits and Aussies Hand Muthanna Province over to Iraqis

For a long time, the neo-cons have claimed the media have ignored the good news out of Iraq. For just as long, their opponents have argued that there isn’t as much good news there are the neo-con-artists claim. However, yesterday, the British and Australians handed Muthanna Province over to Iraqi authorities. That’s good news regardless of what one thinks of the war.

There was a lot of hyperbole at the transfer ceremony. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki led the over-exaggeration brigade when he said, “It is a great national day that will be registered in the history of Iraq. This step will bring happiness to all Iraqis.” British Minister of Defence Des Browne was much more accurate, but still excessively optimistic, when he said the hand over brought the Iraqis “one step nearer to assuming full responsibility for their own security and to building a stable and democratic future for their country.” He should have stopped before the conjunction.

This is a real hand over of power, quite unlike the phony hand over of sovereignty the US made 26 months ago in the Green Zone (two days early to surprise any guerrillas interested in disrupting the show). The reason is largely the low stakes. Muthanna is mostly sand located straight west of Kuwait. The entire population affected is just over 500,000. As a result, it has been the quietest of Iraq’s 18 provinces. There was no reason for the British and Australian troops there to retain control.

However, the PM does acknowledge the serious of the situation. "If this experience fails, this could lead to a big setback which could affect our efforts to control security,” he said. If anything, he undersold the gravity of losing control in Muthanna. If this quiet province becomes a source of unrest, it will be a sign that the Iraqi security forces cannot or will not do their jobs, and that would undermine the entire Iraqization program.

Therefore, the Brits and Aussies will remain “available” should a need for them arise. In all, there are 460 Australian troops there, protecting Japanese engineers in the provincial capital of Samawah, while the UK has 170 of its 7,200 troops deployed in the province. Neighboring Dihqar province has quite a few more who will offer “operational overwatch” functions. Meaning the cavalry is just over the hill if it’s needed. Here’s hoping it won’t be.

© Copyright 2006 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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