Secret deal kept British Army out of battle for Basra

[cal04]

Source: TimesOnline

A secret deal between Britain and the notorious al-Mahdi militia prevented British Forces from coming to the aid of their US and Iraqi allies for nearly a week during the battle for Basra this year, The Times has learnt.

Four thousand British troops – including elements of the SAS and an entire mechanised brigade – watched from the sidelines for six days because of an “accommodation” with the Iranian-backed group, according to American and Iraqi officers who took part in the assault.

(snip)
US advisers who accompanied the Iraqi forces into the fight were shocked to learn of the accommodation made last summer by British Intelligence and elements of al-Mahdi Army, the militia loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr, the radical Shia Muslim cleric.

The deal, which aimed to encourage the Shia movement back into the political process and marginalise extremist factions, has dealt a huge blow to Britain’s reputation in Iraq.

Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article4461023.ece

[carp]

1. I doubt the Brits are this dumb. Sounds to me like disinformation. NT

[bemildred]

2. Sounds like bullshit to me.

"Secret deals" suddenly showing up in the bought-and-paid-for public "News" media always raise my suspicions.

[Imagevision]

3. Yeah!Brits said they would stay if they only played a non-combat role, so,

they were in training the new Iraqi soldiers.

[ohio2007]

4. ..The Times has "learnt. '" ? Is that how they spell 'undisclosed' sources?

A secret deal between Britain and the notorious al-Mahdi militia prevented British Forces from coming to the aid of their US and Iraqi allies for nearly a week during the battle for Basra this year, The Times has learnt.



snip

The Ministry of Defence has never confirmed that there was a deal with al-Mahdi Army, but one official denied that the delay in sending in troops was because of the arrangement agreed with the Shia militia.


: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/articl...

was their source mookie who also ordered Maliki out of Basra the same week ?

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=4600140


I'm sure he can still throw a mookie wrench into putting off future elections with violent means.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3237328

He will lose seats with sunni participation this next go round and won't like it one bit.

[LynnTheDem]

5. Score one for the Brits...since they were shocked when the US admitted

using white P on Iraqis, thus increasing the UK's participation in war crimes. That is, the US admitted it after a year of denying it.