British Combat Operations in Iraq to End Today.

2009-04-30 04:12:52

#1

Switch: Knee Deep In Clunge; +489|6765|Tyne & Wear, England

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8026136.stm

BBC wrote:
British combat operations in Iraq will come to an end on Thursday lunchtime with a handover to American forces.

The move, a month ahead of schedule, ends a six-year UK military presence.

A memorial service has taken place in Basra for the 179 British personnel who have died during the conflict, attended by Defence Secretary John Hutton.

The focus was a memorial wall featuring the names of the 234 UK and foreign troops who lost their lives while serving under British command in Iraq.

The official end of operations will come when the UK's 20 Armoured Brigade hands over to an American brigade at 1215 BST.

Asked about the UK presence in Iraq, the country's president, Jalal Talabani, told BBC News: "This is a mission of liberation. For the first time British forces in Iraq are playing this role.

"In the past the British forces came to occupy against the will of the Iraqi people. This time they came here to liberate Iraqi people from the worst kind of dictatorship."

Good job lads, have a safe journey home.

Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.

2009-04-30 04:27:38

#2

M.O.A.B: 'Light 'em up!'; +1,220|6524|Escea

Whoa, I had no idea their tour ended today

Well done though lads.

2009-04-30 04:34:46

#3

1927: The oldest chav in the world; +2,423|6975|Cardiff, Capital of Wales

Switch wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8026136.stm

BBC wrote:
British combat operations in Iraq will come to an end on Thursday lunchtime with a handover to American forces.

The move, a month ahead of schedule, ends a six-year UK military presence.

A memorial service has taken place in Basra for the 179 British personnel who have died during the conflict, attended by Defence Secretary John Hutton.

The focus was a memorial wall featuring the names of the 234 UK and foreign troops who lost their lives while serving under British command in Iraq.

The official end of operations will come when the UK's 20 Armoured Brigade hands over to an American brigade at 1215 BST.

Asked about the UK presence in Iraq, the country's president, Jalal Talabani, told BBC News: "This is a mission of liberation. For the first time British forces in Iraq are playing this role.

"In the past the British forces came to occupy against the will of the Iraqi people. This time they came here to liberate Iraqi people from the worst kind of dictatorship."
Good job lads, have a safe journey home.

Reckon they will all get sent to the Afghans instead?

2009-04-30 05:38:45

#4

VspyVspy: Sniper; +183|6974|A sunburnt country

Lest we forget the boys that didn't make it home alive.

2009-04-30 06:48:04

#5

FatherTed: xD; +3,936|6802|so randum

VspyVspy wrote:
Lest we forget the boys that didn't make it home alive.

Small hourglass island
Always raining and foggy
Use an umbrella

2009-04-30 06:49:44

#6

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6902|132 and Bush

ty

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-04-30 06:51:38

#7

AussieReaper: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°); +5,761|6454|what

1927 wrote:
Reckon they will all get sent to the Afghans instead?

That's the plan. Britain just announced 900 more troops, to a total of about 9000 in Afghanistan.

Australia, increases from 450 to 1550.

2009-04-30 07:41:34

#8

Switch: Knee Deep In Clunge; +489|6765|Tyne & Wear, England

AussieReaper wrote:
1927 wrote:
Reckon they will all get sent to the Afghans instead?
That's the plan. Britain just announced 900 more troops, to a total of about 9000 in Afghanistan.

Australia, increases from 450 to 1550.

And let's be honest Afghanistan needs it, it's been largely forgotten about in the wake of Iraq. I feel sorry for the lads though, coming home from a dusty shithole to face the prospect of going to another must suck.

Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.

2009-04-30 07:43:24

#9

M.O.A.B: 'Light 'em up!'; +1,220|6524|Escea

Switch wrote:
AussieReaper wrote:
1927 wrote:
Reckon they will all get sent to the Afghans instead?
That's the plan. Britain just announced 900 more troops, to a total of about 9000 in Afghanistan.

Australia, increases from 450 to 1550.
And let's be honest Afghanistan needs it, it's been largely forgotten about in the wake of Iraq. I feel sorry for the lads though, coming home from a dusty shithole to face the prospect of going to another must suck.

I'm hoping that when they return they get some sort of reception and not a load of protesters.

2009-04-30 07:44:12

#10

AussieReaper: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°); +5,761|6454|what

We took our eyes off Afghanistan when we invaded Iraq. Lost Bin Laden, and now face a very long and costly war because of it.

edit:

MOAB wrote:
I'm hoping that when they return they get some sort of reception and not a load of protesters.

Me too.

Last edited by AussieReaper (2009-04-30 08:01:16)

2009-04-30 08:07:56

#11

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6902|132 and Bush

Bin Laden would have been nice, but a real Democracy is better... if you are going to subscribe to doing anything at all.. which I don't.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-04-30 08:09:07

#12

AussieReaper: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°); +5,761|6454|what

Kmarion wrote:
Bin Laden would have been nice, but a real Democracy is better...

Democracy in Iraq or Afghanistan?

Last edited by AussieReaper (2009-04-30 08:11:02)

2009-04-30 08:18:26

#13

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6902|132 and Bush

AussieReaper wrote:
Kmarion wrote:
Bin Laden would have been nice, but a real Democracy is better...
Democracy in Iraq or Afghanistan?

Either, point is capturing Bin laden does little to improve Muslim or American life. .. at all.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-04-30 16:00:22

#14

Trotskygrad: бля; +354|6301|Vortex Ring State

The British are seriously better at this stuff than the Americans. I guess it comes from over 100 years of experience.

"When I went to see the political head of the Badr Brigade, now that the British are leaving for good, I expected him to be crowing over his militia's supposed victory.

On the contrary, Forat al-Shar'a was full of praise for the way the British had behaved in Basra."

"They were, he said, cleverer than the Americans, and had treated the Iraqis with great wisdom. They knew what had been required here, and the fact that the British were leaving peacefully is a genuine achievement."

"Ordinary people I have spoken to agree. They are worried about the Americans, who they think will be aggressive and hostile, and they speak of the British leaving with genuine regret."

Good thing that they're going to Afghanistan... They probably could unfuck it faster than Obama.

BF2S Forums British Combat Operations in Iraq to End Today.

BBC wrote:

Switch wrote:

BBC wrote:

VspyVspy wrote:

1927 wrote:

AussieReaper wrote:

1927 wrote:

Switch wrote:

AussieReaper wrote:

1927 wrote:

MOAB wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

AussieReaper wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

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