British troops to Baghdad area

A topic that is currently red hot in the British Media.

The US has appearently asked that British troops be sent to the Baghdad area to support American troops, see the link below for details.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3754954.stm


What do people feel? Should we show our usual slavish obedience or develop a backbone and tell the Americans to get lost?

 

From a strategic point of view, it can help stabilize the situation.

From a political point of view, what is the chance of the US forces helping the British, if the British doesn't help the US forces?

 

As the US and Britain form a wartime coalition, they have to search for the best methods to reach the objectives they have set themselves.
If the presence of british troops around Bagdad really helps to improve the military and political situation in Iraq than Britain should do so.

On the other hand, this demand could also be a political manoeuvre by the american governement, to show americans before the elections, something like:"Look, in Iraq we are not alone, we have reliable allies that are willing to take more responsability...."

As I am not british, not familiar with the situation around Bagdad, and not familiar with the allied command structure in Iraq, I'd rather not point out an opinion.

 

Even though I agree that allies in a coalition should work with each other, I also believe that this war is mostly political and therefore Britain should keep an eye on its own political interests (like the US does in the elections!!) and shouldn't get stcuk in American problems too much.

 

If they don't help out, it can become a political problem later on, though.

 

The biggest problem are the tactics used by the British and Americans, By putting a British units in the American controlled area the Brits could be tarred with the same brush, at the moment it is a light coating but if it is allowed to thicken then it could start a deeper conflict. the Brits should stay away from the American sector to show that the coalition troops can be more human.

 

I wouldn't consider it unlikely that each parts picks up something from the other. Having the two working together could create some good results.

 

It as been announced that British troops are to be redeployed to the American sector.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3761658.stm

Once against Blair shows his obedence to our American imperial masters.

 

Oh for the love of God, forgive us for expecting support from our Allies. I guess we dirty, evil Americans are just old fashioned like that.

 

Actually I have nothing against Americans at large, I'm related to at least a couple of you, but what I do find wildly irritating it the British Government's slavish devotion to the White House. Let us be brutally honest for a moment and admit that all alliances are marriages of convenience. America's problems are not necessarily Britain's problems.

Its time Blair realized he was elected to look out for Britain's interests not Americas and sure as hell not Bush's.

 

Ebar
I find it ironic that an (I assume) Englishman talks about the Imperialistic Americans :lol:

 

Being English means I understand irony. 8)

My gripe is really about those bloody idiots in Whitehall who insist on handing over sovereignty in all but name to America then in the same breath whine about the EU. Muttering about American Imperialism is how I express this.

 

my feelings = :angry:

sooner we pull our troops out the betta!

americans got themselves into this mess let them get themselves out

 

And you don't think that it'll send a poor picture to the middle eastern dictatorships to pull out when the situation get a little bit tought?

I don't see what is the major concern in Iraq. As I understand, the total US casualties in Iraq is less than 2,000 - that's less than what was lost on a day in WWII, in German military casualties only.

 

Yes, obviously wars aren't what they used to be. Something I've often been absolutely baffled about was the 'disaster' of Vietnam, where the Americans lost the war along with 60,000 brave souls (compared to 295,000 in WW2) - the Vietnamese lost 3 million!

A similar ratio is developing in Iraq. But oh the losses are too much! The real concern, Christian, is the cost.

 

The costs isn't a concern, though - the costs of the war can be attributed to two main factors -

• saleries and
• production costs of weapons.

Both of these ytpes of costs is moving money from the gouvernment to the citizens, as it will help prevent unemployment, and increase the amount of money with the population. Thus, it is a valid way to improve the economy.

Just look at the situation after WWII, where production glowed and it was generally a consumer boom. I see only two problems that has to be conquered before the same situation can come after the Iraqi war:

• Changing of primary energy source from oil and coal to nuclear power, for two reasons -
  • that the oil price will go up as a result of the increased demand, and thus the total effect of the consumer boom will limit itself, and
  • that the current oil consumation cannot be increased far enough to cover the growing energy demand.
• Focussing on preventing the same kind of inflation which occurred partly as a result of the consumer boom and partly because of the energy crises (also see above

The problems is that many people are not aware of these factors.

 

post subject

Best Wishes to the Squadron of the "1st. Queens Dragoon Guards" who are supporting the Jocks of the "Black Watch" along with the lads of 40 Commando. Doing it, not talking it!!

 

Didnt the "Dessert Rats" use a similar rat as their symbol just in different colour. ???

Regards, KBO

 

post subject

the original "Desert Rats" were the famous 7th.Armoured Div, they wore at first a Red Rat on a White Circle on a Black Square, this later changed to a Brown Rat picked out in White on a Black Background, the 4th. Armoured Brigade wore a Black Rat on a White Square, the 7th. Armd.Brigade move from the Middle East in 1942 and went to Burma.
They also wore a jerboa(desrt rat) the same as they had worn in the desert but changed to a Light Green Rat on a White background with a red circular edge, they were called the "Jungle Rats"
The lapel badge of the "Desert Rats" Old Comrades is as show.
If you are interested in Div. signs here is mine of "1st.Armd. Div" also changed in shape a few times, the one pictured below is the one we wore
when we left Italy for Palestine in 47.

 

Well said.