Why are the Brits leaving Basra?

[jmatthan]

It appears that everyone may have missed the obvious.

The Brits are leaving Basra Palace and other locations and settling at the airport where they will have rapid exit possibilities.

When the US Blitz of Iran starts, the fallout massacre will be almost completely in the Iran border region with Iraq.

The Brits do not want to be caught there when that happens.

They would want a rapid exit. What better place to be than Basra Airport.

Within hours of getting info about the US Blitz there will be no British troops left the region.

Obvious?

Jacob Matthan
Oulu, Finland

[ananda]

1. Okaayy.. but

I don't get why the Brits are staying there at all!

[jmatthan]

2. To fool me and you and all and sundry!

eom

[poverlay]

3. Plausible ally-illity? n/t

[zbdent]

4. Maybe the US "surge" was to provide cover fire for

the Brits to leave with minimal casualties ...

[Garbo 2004]

5. The Brits have been publically saying since at least last year that they would pull out of

Basra this year as part of their troop witdrawal plans.

Nov 2006: "Last week, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said Britain may be able to hand over security responsibility in the southern port city of Basra by the spring of 2007." http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2681182

Feb 2007 "..Britain could further reduce its force level to below 5,000 once a base at Basra Palace is transferred to Iraqi control in late summer, Blair said." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17246357/

July 17: "BRITAIN expects to withdraw 500 of its 5500 troops from southern Iraq within weeks and will then assess how soon it can remove the remainder of its forces, Defence Secretary Des Browne said overnight.

The number of British troops was recently cut to about 5500 from 7000. The continuing withdrawal comes after a months-long operation to train Iraqi forces in the region to take over responsibility for security.

Under plans previously outlined by the British government, British forces will take up a support and training role and be mainly located at Basra air base." http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22085896-5005961,00.html

[LeftishBrit]

6. I think the real reason is simpler and less apocalyptic

This was Blair's war and very unpopular with the Brits in general. As long as Blair was PM, there was no chance of our pulling out. But as soon as he went, things changed.

Surely, the Americans also don't want to be in a region of nuclear fallout; and Basra would not be the only place endangered.

A conventional military attack is possible; a nuclear attack isn't going to happen.

[jmatthan]

7. What happens when you blow to smithereens several nuclear facilities?

eom