Britain forced to send more troops to Iraq

[cal04]

· Beckett admits very slow progress on security
· President claims all UK troops could leave in 2007

Britain is to reinforce its military presence in Iraq in a move that reflects increasing concern about the threat to its troops and the inability of local forces to take over responsibility for the country's security.

The decision was announced by the Ministry of Defence as the foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, on her first visit to Iraq, warned that it was making "very slow" progress on security. Separately, a leading international thinktank warned that the conflict in Iraq was producing highly trained and motivated jihadists ready to commit terrorist acts in Europe and elsewhere.

The 360 extra British troops will be deployed in southern Iraq to reinforce the 19 Light Brigade which takes over from the 20 Armoured Brigade, at present based in Basra, later this year, the MoD said. They will include soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, based in Cyprus, Royal Engineers, Royal Marines and Military Police.

The MoD said the engineers would help counter the threat from improvised explosive devices, which have killed 19 British soldiers patrolling in "snatch" Land Rovers over the last 16 months. A Royal Marine boat troop will be deployed to step up security on the Shatt al-Arab waterway, which borders Iran. The extra military police will train local Iraqi forces.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1865844,00.html

[Rex]

1. But but but I thought we were winning the hearts and minds of

the Iraqi people!? No one in history has occupied another country, unless they went on to conquer the locals and assimilate into the society. We are not doing that, hence we will lose and have to leave Iraq as we did Vietnam.

Poor Britons. Sharing in our ugly resource grabbing war.

[Demeter]

2. Forced? By Whose Gun?

Why not take events as forcing a total withdrawal, instead? Much more sensible.

[Barrett808]

3. Britain to reinforce troops in Iraq as FM visits (360 more to Basra)

BASRA, Iraq (AFP) - Britain's foreign minister has visited the restive southern Iraqi city of Basra, as the military announced it was sending 360 extra troops to protect reconstruction projects.

Two British soldiers were killed just north of Basra on Monday when a roadside bomb ripped apart their lightly-armoured Land Rover, and there is increasing concern in London over a surge in violence around the city.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett visited Basra and spoke in support of the efforts of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's efforts to reconcile Iraq's warring factions and build security forces capable of controlling the war torn country.

"I had some good meetings with senior Iraqi politicians yesterday," she said on the second day of her visit to Iraq, where 7,200 British troops remain three years after they helped overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime.

"We discussed the national reconciliation programme for the whole of Iraq and for the south, and the pressing need to address the security environment throughout the country," she added, in a press statement.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060906/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestbritain