tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492310882851199969.post2730391475521317799..comments2024-01-09T15:03:54.986-05:00Comments on Wolf Howling: Countdown IranGWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814327154035433443noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492310882851199969.post-31415282907034309702008-05-25T15:45:00.000-04:002008-05-25T15:45:00.000-04:00Hi GW,And all the best on Memorial Day.The Brits F...Hi GW,<BR/>And all the best on Memorial Day.<BR/><BR/>The Brits FAILED in Basra because the Labour government pulled most of their forces out precipitously and few troops that remained were constrained by rules of engagement that had them fighting a very limited defensive war.<BR/><BR/>And they made no effort whatsoever to control the situation,leaving the people of Basra in the hands of folks like <A HREF="http://joshuapundit.blogspot.com/2008/05/taps-for-mahdi-army.html" REL="nofollow">these.</A><BR/><BR/>They ended up retreating to a fortified redoubt conveniently near the airport and were hunkered down until the Americans and the Iraqi Army came in to take care of the bad guys.<BR/><BR/>At the time,the Telegraph quoted an unnamed British officer as saying that he and his men were ashamed to see the Americans and the Iraqis doing the job they should have been doing.I agree with him.<BR/><BR/>The Brits let us down in Iraq,just as they let us down in the Persian Gulf when they pulled their navy out after a few sailors were kidnapped by Iran.<BR/><BR/>Sir Winston would have hurled.<BR/><BR/>In retrospect, unless there are some major changes over there we might just be better off without their support in anything serious that calls for something beyond good wishes. <BR/><BR/>I dislike being negative but I've just about written them off as an ally.<BR/><BR/>All Best,<BR/>ffRobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13332213651195340500noreply@blogger.com