07-08-2005, 01:10 PM
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#97 (permalink)
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Banned
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Elphaba,
I posted these in my looooong post on pg.2 in the "attack in London" thread as
support for my theory that it was "time" for a domestic "terrorist" attack to restore the "resolve" of constituents increasingly unhappy with Bush and Blair's 'war"..............
Quote:
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/a1384df4-ec...00e2511c8.html
MoD plans Iraq troop withdrawal
By Jimmy Burns and Peter Spiegel
Published: July 4 2005 22:02 | Last updated: July 4 2005 22:02
The Ministry of Defence has drafted plans for a significant withdrawal of British troops from Iraq over the next 18 months and a big deployment to Afghanistan, the Financial Times has learnt.
In what would represent the biggest operational shake-up involving the armed forces since the Iraq war, the first stage of a run-down in military operations is likely to take place this autumn with a handover of security to Iraqis in at least two southern provinces.
Defence officials emphasised that all plans for Iraqi deployments were contingent on the ability of domestic security forces to assume peacekeeping duties from UK troops. Iraqi forces have so far proven unable to take over such roles in areas where the insurgency is most intense, and progress has disappointed coalition officials.
But senior UK officers believe the four south-east provinces under UK command, which are largely Shia and have not seen the same violence as more Sunni-dominated areas north of Baghdad, may be ready for a handover earlier than those under US command.
Any reduction of UK troops could be timed to coincide with plans being developed to deploy a total of up to 3,000 troops to Afghanistan before the end of next year. This deployment would take the lead in a Nato force to take over from US troops in the south of Afghanistan......
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Quote:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...E28737,00.html
Just not enough force
Patrick Walters, National security editor
June 18, 2005
DOUGLAS Wood's extraordinarily fortunate rescue this week continues Australia's incredible run of good fortune in Iraq. Wood, the only Australian to be held hostage for a lengthy period by Muslim insurgents, escaped with his life thanks to the efforts of a dedicated multinational hostage relief effort and, not least, to a successful house raid conducted by the fledgling Iraqi army.
In 28 months of military operations in Iraq, the Australian Defence Force has not lost a man or woman on active service, although the army has suffered several seriously wounded from car and roadside bombs in Baghdad.
The army's 500-strong deployment to al-Muthanna province in southern Iraq is going well, with Lieutenant-Colonel Roger Noble's troops quickly establishing a good rapport with the local community in Samawah and surrounding villages.
Australia's military contribution to the war on terror continues to be notable, not just for the professionalism of our defence force but also for the paucity of the numbers involved.
But within the next few months the Howard Government must ponder tough questions about our future contribution to the Iraq and Afghanistan theatres, still the front line of the global effort against Islamist terrorism. For all the Government's rhetoric, our contribution to US-led coalition efforts at a critical time for both countries remains largely a token effort.
The insurgency in Iraq remains potent, with violent attacks on Iraqi security forces and stretched US forces in northern and central Iraq occurring every day.
In Afghanistan the Government of Hamid Karzai is still struggling to establish the rule of law in the face of stiff opposition from tribal warlords and attacks mounted by heavily armed Taliban and al-Qa'ida elements.
We have fewer than 1000 defence personnel inside Iraq and only a single army mine clearance expert in Afghanistan. This compares with US military forces of 139,000 in Iraq and about 10,000 in Afghanistan, and Britain with 10,000 in Iraq and about 1000 in Afghanistan.
A fortnight ago tiny New Zealand dispatched 50 Special Air Service troops to Afghanistan, a force now on its third rotation. In addition, the Kiwis have a 120-strong contingent working on provincial reconstruction tasks in Bamiyan province.
"The trouble is we believe our own propaganda," observes one senior Australian government source. "We have a contradiction at the heart of our policy. This is a desperate time for the US in Iraq. They are critically short of troops. The fact is the UK is the only country fighting and dying with the US."
..........With Britain set to take over the running of the UN-backed International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan next year, the pressure on the Howard Government will be to match rhetoric with action. The NATO-led ISAF troops will be boosted to more than 10,000 in the run-up to parliamentary elections in September. The US and British military would like to see the Australian army play a bigger role in Afghanistan..........
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Quote:
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do...&obj_id=123359
http://theconservativevictory.blogsp...or-troups.html
Government must explain plans for massive British troop deployment to Afghanistan
Following press reports today that the UK has been asked to provide an additional 5,500 troops for operations in Afghanistan, Shadow Defence Secretary Michael Ancram, has written to Dr John Reid asking for clarification as to how this deployment would affect British operations in Iraq. He wrote: "There have been reports in the media this morning that the UK has been asked to provide an additional 5,500 troops for the operations in Afghanistan. It is my understanding that the offer was made at last week's NATO meeting in Brussels. According to the same reports 5,500 troops will be pulled out of Iraq within the next 12 months, reducing the British presence there by almost two thirds. "I would be grateful if you could clarify several issues:When was a decision on deploying additional troops to Afghanistan made?What is the exact nature of the deployment? What is the composition of the troops designated for the deployment? How many reservists will be deployed? When do you expect the first contingent to be deployed? Has the U. S. approached any other of our allies? Have any other Coalition partners indicated that they may want to commit additional troops to Afghanistan?"Finally, are you satisfied that Iraq's own security forces will be able to take on a greater burden of the struggle against the insurgency there? Are you confident that Iraq will have calmed down enough by the spring next year to allow resources to be switched to the new campaign?.......
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