Britain hands over Basra

[guns_and_roses]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3058305.ece




Edited by Roy Harding to correct typo in thread title.  (Aids in searches, and I couldn't stand it anymore)

 

[tomahawk6]

I hope the IA/IP can control those murderous pro-Iranian militias, if not the US will have to go in and it wont be a cake walk.

 

[geo]

Makes you wonder at times if it wasn't better to have Sadam there to keep a grip on the country -  facing off against Iran in the Persian Gulf.

 

[Kirkhill]

Iraqi Security Forces in Basra:

Basrah: Missing the Iraqi Security Force Deployment
By DJ ElliottDecember 16, 2007 12:35 PM
The Long War Journal
 
The Iraqi military deployed one of its two tank brigades to Basrah, yet this goes unreported. AFP Photo. Click to view.

There are four factors in determining when to transition a province to Iraqi control: the threat, Iraqi Security Forces capability, governance, and politics. The reporting on the turnover of Basrah province addresses three of the four factors in determining PIC; yet the established press leaves out one of the most important changes of the last year.

The reporting on the transition of Basrah province to Provisional Iraqi Control (PIC) has been filled with stories on the influence of the Jaish al Mahdi (the Mahdi Army), the Badr Brigades, various militias, criminals, United Kingdom forces, and politics. But the reporting has omitted a significant development in Basrah, and a crucial element of the story: the greatly expanded Iraqi Army presence.

The security situation in Basrah is certainly in need of being addressed, as Iran's attempts to influence the region, coupled with the extensive militia and criminal activity threatens the government's writ. The Iraqi government has committed significant resources to the southern city. Many of these units have been redeployed from regions where the Sunni insurgency is strongest.

One year ago the Iraqi Army had one brigade in Basrah, and it was reported as corrupt. The 1-10 Motorized Brigade has since been replaced by one of the three best brigades in the Iraqi Army. The 1-10 was sent to Wassit province to break its ties to the militias in Basrah.

The Iraqi Army now has four brigades and an Iraqi Special Operations Forces battalion in Basrah province. And the Iraqi Army is not finished; another brigade for Basrah is forming. The current and future units in Basrah include:

• 3-9 Tank Brigade (deployed from Baghdad to cover until 4-14 is formed)
• 1-14 Motorized Brigade (formerly the 3-8 Brigade from Wassit, replaced the 1-10)
• 2-14 Motorized Brigade (formerly the 5-10 Brigade, formed in May 2007)
• 3-14 Brigade (assembled in November 2007)
• 4-14 Brigade (forming by July 2008)
• Basrah ISOF Battalion (assembled from Anbar/Ninawa/Baghdad in August 2007)
• 14th Division Headquarters elements (diverted from Salahadin 12th Division formation; established Nov. 7, 2007)

The 3-9 Tank Brigade is the one of two tank-equipped Iraqi Army units, and it was temporarily deployed from Baghdad to Basrah. Yet the reporting continues to omit this very important factor.

In addition, the Iraqi National Police has sent two battalions of the 1st National Police Mechanized Brigade to Basrah. These forces are in addition to the Basrah based 2/IV Border Guards Brigade and the Umm Qasr-based Iraqi Marine Battalion.

All of this data is public knowledge and published. When discussing the security situation in Basrah and the transfer of provincial control, the Iraqi government's efforts to buttress the security forces must also be mentioned to tell the full story.

This the Brits are pulling out a Brigade (-) and leaving behind a Battle Group (+)  AND a large Iraqi Division under a Shiite dominated Government (with Badr Brigade connections) to tackle the Shiite Iranians, the Shiite Sadrists and assorted local thugs and criminals.

As to oil exports - Basra is still a coastal port and Naval Power, not to mention forces in Kuwait, can still be brought to bear.    And (in my opinion) Iraq's future is tied to the Northern Route to supply oil to Europe.

Wall Street Journal

Iraqi Oil Is Easing Supply Strain
By Hassan Hafidh
Word Count: 662  |  Companies Featured in This Article: South Oil
AMMAN, Jordan -- Amid today's tight crude markets, hundreds of thousands of extra barrels of oil have helped ease the strain. They are coming from a surprising source: Iraq.

In recent months, Iraqi oil output has climbed slowly back to levels seen before the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, thanks in large part to increased production from the north. While it is unclear whether the gains can be maintained, the higher numbers have been an encouraging sign to U.S. and Iraqi officials in Baghdad.
....

 

[Kirkhill]

A December 5 report from Michael Yon on what the Brits were facing in Basra:

....On 26 June, for instance, Sgt McLeod from the Scots Black Watch completed a mission in which he and his men were hit with 15 IEDs and nearly two dozen serious RPG and small-arms attacks. At about midnight on the following night, a convoy was scheduled between Basra Palace and the main British base at Basra Airport. 4 Rifles was to clear the route. The “Welsh Warriors” along with “Black Watch” adjuncts were on point as usual, led by Major Steve Webb.

The paradox of fighting in armored vehicles is that it’s often important for infantry soldiers to dismount to secure the route for the armor; otherwise the vehicle could be destroyed along with everyone in it.
During tonight’s route clearance, LCpl Jock Fowler’s Warrior approached an intersection, halted, and four soldiers got out to search for bombs in the dark. This act requires great courage. Unfortunately, the enemy had learned devastating techniques from a wide array of sources. These techniques include one said to have been developed in Lebanon: planting massive bombs at intersections. In addition to the bombs, Iraqi snipers and machine gunners often use night-vision gear. Or they simply fire rockets or mortars at an intersection.

The soldiers dismounted into the night: CPL Paul Joszko; Pte Scott Kennedy; Pte Jamie Kerr and Pte Kieren Flower slipped through the darkness toward the intersection. LCpl Fowler was about 20 meters away inside the Warrior when BOOM! the vehicle was slammed by the blast. The blast even rocked the CO’s vehicle parked 70 meters back. The blast was so powerful that Fowler was sure they had been hit, though they had not.

Sgt McLeod was disoriented and temporarily deafened, but dismounted at once taking three soldiers with him into the dark. Smoke and dust were thick, electrical lines snapped and popped, and a larger ambush unfolded. Screams came from the dark and although McLeod could see nothing, he ran toward the screams. IED wounds tend to be dramatic and horrific. This was no exception. One soldier was missing part of his head and was in intense pain from other wounds. Another was badly maimed. The remaining two of the four man team had just ceased to exist. As the dust and smoke cleared, McLeod saw body parts and bloody gear spread all over.

The living casualties were evacuated. As with their American counterparts, some of the more senior British soldiers often treat younger combat soldiers more like their own sons than equal warriors. WO2 Kretzschmar didn’t want his young soldiers to see the carnage, so he sent them back to the vehicle, and began the task of collecting the fallen with Sgt McLeod. But they came under automatic weapons fire from at least two unknown positions as they collected body parts. Somehow, the bullets all missed. Similarly, an RPG warhead landed only a couple of feet between them but did not explode. When the RPG launched, however, a Warrior detected the thermal signature and fired 30mm into the position. Small arms continued to snap through the darkness as McLeod and Kretzschmar filled the body bags with the remains of their friends and comrades.

Pte Kieren, who was also hit, but still alive, was immediately casevac’d to the hospital. The remains of Joszko, Kennedy and Kerr were handed over to QRF by the soldiers. The CO and Maj Webb conferred at the scene and the CO ordered the operation to continue.

....

 

[Kirkhill]

Britain failed own targets to protect Iraqis in Basra, says MoD
By MATTHEW HICKLEY
Daily Mail Link

Last updated at 00:09am on 18th December 2007

Assessment is a stark contrast to 'no retreat' claims by defence minister Bob Ainsworth
Britain has failed to meet its own targets for curbing violence in Iraq, a Defence Ministry report said yesterday.

The damning verdict came hours after UK forces finally handed control of Basra to the Iraqi police.

An official performance review submitted to MPs said the military were "not on course" to protect Iraqis from violence and instability.


More on link...

MoD is being extraordinarily fast off the mark to slag the Army.  Not that it probably isn't deserved.  But I'm thinking the blame-game has already started: Army vs MOD vs Treasury vs PM