| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| UK Troops to Iran Border |
| 2007-09-12 |
| British forces have been sent from Basra to the volatile border with Iran amid warnings from the senior US commander in Iraq that Tehran is fomenting a "proxy war". In signs of a fast-developing confrontation, the Iranians have threatened military action in response to attacks launched from Iraqi territory while the Pentagon has announced the building of a US base and fortified checkpoints at the frontier. The UK operation, in which up to 350 troops are involved, has come at the request of the Americans, who say that elements close to the Iranian regime have stepped up supplies of weapons to Shia militias in recent weeks in preparation for attacks inside Iraq. The deployment came within a week of British forces leaving Basra Palace, their last remaining base inside Basra city, and withdrawing to the airport for a widely expected final departure from Iraq. Brigadier James Bashall, commander of 1 Mechanised Brigade, based at Basra said: "We have been asked to help at the Iranian border to stop the flow of weapons and I am willing to do so. We know the points of entry and I am sure we can do what needs to be done. The US forces are, as we know, engaged in the 'surge' and the border is of particular concern to them." The operation is regarded as a high-risk strategy which could lead to clashes with Iranian-backed Shia militias or even Iranian forces and also leaves open the possibility of Iranian retaliation in the form of attacks against British forces at the Basra air base or inciting violence to draw them back into Basra city. Relations between the two countries are already fraught after the Iranian Revolutionary Guards seized a British naval party in the Gulf earlier this year. For the British military the move to the border is a change of policy. They had stopped patrols along the long border at Maysan despite US concerns at the time that the area would become a conduit for weapons into Iraq. The decision to return to the frontier has been heavily influenced by the highly charged and very public dispute with the United States. British commanders feel that they cannot turn down the fresh American request for help after refusing to delay the withdrawal from Basra Palace. They also maintain that the operation will stop Iranian arms entering Basra. Brigadier Bashall said: "We are not sitting here idly at the air bridge. The security of Basra is still our responsibility and we shall act where necessary. We are also prepared to restore order in Basra City if asked to do so." Good show. The US decision to build fortifications at the Iranian border, after four years of presence in Iraq, shows, say American commanders, that the "Iranian threat" is now one of their main concerns. |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |
| #7 >incredible house, and wants the Americkki tribe to stay at least four more years. Wow, great! I'll look for more. Thanks. On the same topic, the SNOW interview with "Ahmad" has an interesting post-interview reflection... http://www.chanel4.com/v2/player.jsp?showId=9076 Snow Grills him on the "proxy effect"... And "Ahmad" grins & gives assurances that they aren't killing the Britts. The Brits aren't buying it, one iota! :/ |
| Posted by: MB 2007-09-12 21:43 |
| #6 There have been unconfirmed reprots or Poster claims that the proposed new border base may harbor local BMD assets eg PATRIOTS. Iff true, means Syria + Iran will essens be cut off from one another wid Syria per se unilater facing a multi-front threat from the USA=Allies and Israel. Dubya just may had "upped the ante" agz Moud again, all but publicly/officially daring Moud to do something militarily andor via Terror. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-09-12 20:51 |
| #5 A couple of days ago? that "lady" Fox reporter that is in Iraq (doing a superb job with her topics) was at that international border, spotlighting all the changes that have been made. It was the soon to be opening day, and she showed the existing border, custom crossing, then, the new facility and how it will be implemented. It not "just" some added x-rays. It's huge! State of the art facility. Too bad Fox isn't putting her reports on file.... she shows some outstanding reports. I recently went hunting for the one where she did an interview with a sheik. He wasn't just a shiek, he was "The Shiek." Out in the Anbar. The one who started this whole "Enlighting" thing. Over a million folks in his tribe, included Sunni and Shia.... those in Iraqi and Syria and Turkey... incredible house, and wants the Americkki tribe to stay at least four more years. |
| Posted by: Sherry 2007-09-12 20:07 |
| #4 Would also make shipping hard via the ports ... supplies in, Iraqi oil out |
| Posted by: lotp 2007-09-12 19:44 |
| #3 This may actually be a very interesting turn of events. The Brits may be acting as a trigger, that in case of an Iranian incursion into Iraq could make a NATO response possible. I have suspected for a long time that the Iranians may try a sweep into southern Iraq, to bog down US forces there instead of fighting them in Iran. It wouldn't be very taxing on Iran, as it would be mostly expendable infantry, and use the Iraqis as human shields. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-09-12 19:25 |
| #2 ... the Pentagon has announced the building of a US base and fortified checkpoints at the frontier. Which suggests to me there have been no fortified checkpoints at the frontier. You know, call me crazy, but I think I have a theory about how those shaped charges are getting into the country. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-09-12 18:41 |
| #1 The last report was the Britts were leaving. The Dems rejoiced at the Bush failure, only to find out they were redeploying to the Iranian border. LOL LOL LOL today is a good day. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2007-09-12 18:16 |