Paying the Price of Folly
Most people who write on Iraq seem to think that the British forces are having an easy time in Basra, Iraq. The British have themselves encouraged the view that they know the delicate art of winning hearts and minds and held out Basra as their case in point. The events of the last few days, however, have shown the ugly side of Bitish occupation. Though there is no Abu Garaib type scandal the fact remains that the British along with the Americans are having a tough time in Iraq. Everwhere in Basra are slogans waring the Britsh army: the Mahdi Army which was treated with kids gloves both by the US and the UK has entrenched itself in Basra.
The political troubles of Tony Blair has led him to seriously question the existing Briotish policy in Iraq. Three years after blundering into Iraq along with the Americans, the British find themselves in a sea of hostility. Unlike the Americns who routinely use excessive force against the civilian population, the British are slightly more cirumspect, but it is ceratinly not winning them any brownie points with the Iraqis. The British General in Iraq Brig. Nigel Aylwin-foster is on record severely repremanding the American forces for their brutaslity. Basra is slowly becoming likemBaghdad with driveby shooting, death squads, car bombs etc.
Tony Blair has quietly withdrew 20,000 men from Iraq leaving around 10,000 men in Basra.Perhaps, Blair knowing that the war is proving to be a costly political proposition is gradually withdrawing from Iraq. The British losses in Iraq are quite light: a mere 112 men in 3 years of ocupation. And with Gordan Brown slated to take over from Tony Blair later this year, the withdrawal from Iraq will be completed by then.