(reported by Iraqi TV) Another US helicopter down, British bases bombed

[maddezmom]

Baghdad - Another US helicopter has crashed in Iraq, Al-Arabiya television reports said Thursday.

The reports quoted witnesses as saying that a helicopter had crashed north of Baquba, 60 kilometres north of Baghdad. None of the crew were hurt, according to the reports.

~snip`

An Iraqi security source said Thursday that two British military bases in Basra, which has a predominantly Shiite population, had been bombarded with rocket-propelled grenades in the past 24 hours.

The two British bases, located in downtown Basra and in the city's Shat al-Arab hotel, were bombed Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, the source added.

link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/33251.html

[woodsprite]

1. Hmmmm. Wonder if it's the US effort to keep Brit troops in Iraq? n/t

[saltpoint]

2. Sad to say, I thought the same thing. It's uneasy that

base bombings would come fast on the heels of Blair's announcement of troop withdrawal yesterday. Maddezmom has straightened me out on the big picture danger these British soldiers have been facing.

I don't want to be suspicious of my own government, but the Bush administration isn't my own government. President Gore and President Kerry would represent my government. Gore and Kerry didn't cheat in 200 and 2004.

Bush-Cheney did.

[maddezmom]

4. from what I've read in the past they've been under constant attack

I'll see if I can find something.

edited:

But the 7,200-strong British contingent has nevertheless clashed with political and tribal militias. Its bases still come under almost daily mortar and rocket fire and more than 130 soldiers have died in four years.

British officers say they plan to pull out of three bases in the city itself and a logistics base in Shuaiba outside the town, and gradually concentrate their forces at their headquarters at Basra airport.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070221/wl_afp/britainiraqbasra_070221155723

[saltpoint]

5. Thanks for that info and summary.

I'd rather not be suspicious at all, especially when real lives are at stake, but I'm so weary of the lies that spew out of the Bush administration about this war...

[KittyWampus]

3. You're suggesting the US bombed the British bases? Or ordered it? To keep them there?

?

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. Never underestimate

the capacity of some people to invent ridiculous theories. It's almost a palor game, for some. They've read too many spy novels, and fancy themselves experts in some bizarro world realpolitik. It's better to just laugh than to question their incoherent ramblings.

[carla]

7. Sadly,

in an atmosphere of paranoia and secrecy, conspiracy gains the upper hand.
It seems obvious from here that occupation is sufficient to engender resistance.
I wish the British troops a quick return home.:shrug:

[rodeodance]

8. Bush WANTS us to see that some parts of Iraq are SAFE. The suggestion

that the US would bomb basra is silly.

[global1]

9. *Co Can Make Their Spin Go Either Way.......

Brits leaving Iraq: *Co Spin is - a sign that things are going well; see the Dems are not giving us a chance on success in Iraq; they want to pull out now.

But if violence erupts in Basra: *Co Spin could then say - see, if/when we leave chaos will break out; case in point Brits leaving Basra

*Co again gets put into a win-win scenario for themselves; they can spin it either way and make a point for their never-ending war.