TIME TO GO

By Monitor Britain has decided to keep its 4'000 troops in Iraq for the time-being as a result of the escalation in violence. However, during the recent “troubles” in Basra the British army failed to get involved, leaving the fighting to the Iraqi army who they have helped train. So what is the point of having a Brigade-sized force with badly needed equipment stationed at Basra airport? If the British army is now going to leave policing of southern Iraq to the Iraqi army then perhaps the time has come for the British army to pull-out. Vitally needed helicopters could be sent to Afghanistan and the so-called over-stretch of the British army reduced. There is no real military reason for keeping British troops in Iraq; I suspect that it is politically motivated. The British army admits that the war in Afghanistan can be won although more troops will be needed. With helicopters to move troops around British soldiers would be better protected. The British army is having to fight on two fronts at the moment along with their normal duties. Planners at the Ministry of Defence never envisaged fighting one conflict east of Suez let alone two! The most sensible option at the moment is to withdraw. The Iraqi army has been trained for the last five years by the British and by this stage they should be ready and equipped to maintain law and order in their own country. If they are not then there are some serious questions to be asked.