Hunting militias is the first test, says general

[ECH1969]

BRITISH troops could be sent to clean out extremist militias in Basra who orchestrated the rioting at the site of the Lynx helicopter crash if the Iraqi army fails to do the job, the most senior British officer in the country said yesterday.

An armed splinter group from the notorious al-Mahdi Army, backed by fundamentalists across the border in Iran, is blamed for opening fire on the British force sent to try to rescue the helicopter crew.

Intelligence reports suggest that there is a danger that many gunmen in Basra are now beyond al-Sadr’s control and that terror groups in Iran are funding and arming local militia. Coalition commanders are trying to discover who in Iran is masterminding the increasing support for the splinter groups and stirring up the recent violence.

General Fry said: “Iran probably wants to inconvenience the coalition, to detain us militarily, cause us a certain amount of military attrition, and blunt any appetite that the West might have for further military adventures in this area. But what it doesn’t want is a long-term American presence here, or a state in turmoil on its borders.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2171441,00.html

[Kagemusha]

1. Go ahead and try, General.

Clean them out. Sure you will. Sure.

[MadMaddie]

2. So what the hell have they been having the soldiers doing up

to this point? This just proves the US and Britain are on the defensive not the offensive.....:banghead:

[ECH1969]

3. The UK has let the Madhi Army and Iranian groups take over Basra

Basically out of fear of casulties they have almost consigned themselves to their base.

[MadMaddie]

4. Sigh.....do you ever think about the Tet Offensive....?

It comes to mind with US and British Troops bunkering down.....what a fucking mess....

[ckramer]

5. Stop talking --- just do it!

Let's see how good these British troops are.