General warns of rising levels of violence in Basra

[Barrett808]

General warns of rising levels of violence in Basra

· Gloomy assessment echoed by minister
· Provincial elections likely to be delayed

Richard Norton-Taylor
Wednesday June 21, 2006
The Guardian

British troops are facing an increasingly dangerous security situation in Basra, with rising levels of violence, a senior British officer warned yesterday.

Painting a gloomy picture of British-controlled southern Iraq, Lieutenant General Nick Houghton, Britain's chief of joint operations, also told the Commons defence committee that it would be "some time" before Britain could hand over responsibility to Iraq for defending the country's crucial oil producing region in the northern Gulf. Describing the situation as "worrying" he said provincial elections in the region, originally planned for the summer, would probably have to be delayed until the autumn.

The general's assessment was in contrast with recent upbeat comments about the security situation in Iraq by Tony Blair. But the general's words were echoed by the armed forces minister, Adam Ingram, who told the committee: "I am conscious of the fact that the first time I visited Iraq I was on the streets with our soldiers who were in soft hats, no body armour. I don't think that could happen now."

Gen Houghton made clear yesterday that the British army's main hope in Basra is that the new Iraqi national army and police force is able to take on the lead responsibility for maintaining security by the end of the year. The most immediate aim, he said, was an "increased use of the Iraqi army on the streets of Basra".

"There is a worrying amount of violence and murder carried out between rival Shia factions," he said. "The security situation in Basra has no doubt got worse of late due to the protracted period of talks to form the government." That, he said, allowed "a period of time in which politics that should have been conducted more appropriately, actually were conducted through violent means on the streets". Gen Houghton continued: "There has been inter-faction rivalry, much of it then reflecting in non-judicial murder between rival Shia factions struggling for political and economic power."

(more)

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,,1802401,00.html

[saigon68]

1. There has been inter-faction rivalry

No Shit

[lebkuchen]

3. Gen. Chiarelli said 3 mo. ago the Iraqis were Iraqis first

not Shia, Sunni, or Christian.

He also had complete faith and trust in the Iraqi Army.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5253422

[saigon68]

6. He didn't understand a thing about the history of the place

Pure arrogance on his part in his attempt to

"Civilize the Natives"

Disgusting on his part.

[lebkuchen]

7. He's only had the position since Jan.

Maybe that explains why 3 PFCs and a humvee were left to fend for themselves in the Triangle of Death.

My theory has been that we're short of NCOs. Now that the recruitment age has been expanded again, from 35 to 40 to 42, with Bush forced to make another emergency visit to Iraq to play with the military equipment for the benefit of HS dropouts/graduates in need of a job, I think we are probably grossly short of NCOs.

on edit: I'm not military. What do YOU think?

[saigon68]

8. Lack of qualified Jr NCOs could be part of it

But it runs deeper than that.

Gen Eric Shinseki said before he was fired by Rumsfeld, the Army needed 250,000 troops to do an adequate job of occupation.

Bush can't raise that many without a draft

The Army can't do the job with the assets they have

Plus the Iraqi Resistance Forces keep getting better.

Its a Quagmire alright

I now exit stage right, while Congressman Murtha takes over with his opinion of the Bush Cluster-Fuck.

[lebkuchen]

9. a quagmire that won't end in a win or even stalemate

The longer the US stays, the more it loses, militarily, morally, and geopolitically.

[saigon68]

10. It will end this way

[gratuitous]

11. That's the photo I was reminded of

When McCain said that a planned withdrawal is not what is needed. We've seen the results of an unplanned withdrawal, Mr. McCain. I wonder what makes him think the result will be any different this time?

[sabra]

2. Basra was once considered a "success" - now it's a state of emergency

:-(

[lebkuchen]

4. Are you sure? Bush said just last week things were going swimmingly

and he was there in person to provide first-hand analysis.

[Supersedeas]

5. Turning a Corner, Last Throes, Nothing to see here....Media cue up shark