No More Need for British Troops in Iraq-Nam

The Iraq-Namese government has decided it doesn’t need the 4,100 British troops currently in the southern part of Iraq-Nam. Prime Minister al-Maliki said, “We thank them for the role they have played, but I think that their stay is not necessary for maintaining security and control.” The Ministry of Defence expects to begin bringing most of the troops home shortly.

Not all of the Tommies will be headed home, though. Prime Minister al-Maliki said that some may stay behind to help train his troops. Nevertheless, a “page had been turned” in Iraq-Nam’s relationship with Britain. He added, “The Iraqi arena is open for British companies and British friendship, for economic exchange and positive co-operation in science and education.”

There is still some anger about the redeployment of Britain’s forces to a base by Basra’s airport from the center of the city. The Prime Minister complained, “They stayed away from the confrontation, which gave the gangs and militia the chance to control the city. The situation deteriorated so badly that corrupted youths were carrying swords and cutting the throats of women and children. The citizens of Basra called out for our help . . . and we moved to regain the city.”

The British tell a different, and more plausible, story. An MoD spokesman said the repositioning was done on a “very sound military rationale.” He added, “Our presence in Basra city was a motivating factor for a large proportion of the violence in Basra, and the decision to withdraw UK forces allowed the Iraqi Security Forces to develop lasting solutions to the security challenges in Basra. The transformation of the security situation in Basra is a vindication of that strategy.”

The next hurdle to overcome is the status of forces agreement that would provide the legal context for their continued presence in Iraq-Nam. The current UN mandate expires on December 31. Prime Minister al-Maliki said, “To avoid reaching the critical deadline, I wish for the negotiations between the two sides to start quickly to determine what elements of the force remain and their specialities.” The United States is trying to come to some kind of deal with Baghdad, and whatever the US agreement looks like will probably be what the British get as well.

© Copyright 2008 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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