HOLD FIRE: 3,000 MARINES AND PARAS MUST WAIT - Blair

[dArKeR]

By Tom Newton Dunn And Oonagh Blackman

A CONTROVERSIAL move to send 3,000 British troops to Iraqi tinderbox Najaf is to be shelved.

Tony Blair believes taking control of Shia Muslims' holiest city could unleash political and public outrage and fuel demands for him to quit.

The delay emerged yesterday as the Premier refused to publicly denounce the US over Iraq, saying it would damage troop morale. Mr Blair was expected to announce the imminent departure of Marines and Paras to Najaf, HQ of radical cleric Moqtadr al-Sadr.

But a senior Army source revealed: "The Government's appetite to take on Najaf has all but disappeared. It doesn't believe it can sell it to the public.

"Three weeks ago, we were readying to go. Now nobody expects it until late summer at earliest, if ever." Though no formal decision has been taken, troops are not expected to move in until at least September.

It is understood a senior British military figure will now hold talks with US generals on Monday.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid=14260782%26method=full%26siteid=50143%26headline=hold%2dfire%2d%2d3%2d000%2dmarines%2dand%2dparas%2dmust%2dwait-name_page.html

[Jacobin]

1. Maybe Blair is scared enough of losing his job that he will

actually honor overwhelming public opinion.

How refreshing. Maybe the Brits are re-asserting themselves as a democracy.

Too bad we aren't there yet.

[FreakinDJ]

2. No Bush needs it closer to the November Elections

He probably wants Blair to hold off so he can look like a good muslim killing patriot just in time for the elections

[Spazito]

3. The only reason Blair isn't sending more troops is...

because of this:

"MPs warned that committing thousands more troops to Iraq would cause rebellion among up to 100 Labour backbenchers."

MPs are demanding a vote on any further troops going to Iraq and if Blair lost the vote, it would be a vote of non-confidence against his government and his government would fall. He isn't going to risk that.

[0007]

4. Even the U.K. is getting smart

"The Brits insisted UK soldiers must not be under direct US command.

Bring the troops home

[dArKeR]

5. 100F tomorrow in Basrah. Do you know why your children are dying?

http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/IZXX0002.html