Brown’s Christmas gift to UK troops.
By on Dec 10th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Brown’s Christmas gift to UK troops.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday made a surprise visit to British troops in southern Iraq, announcing to them that “within two weeks,” their combat operations in Basra will be over. According to The Sun, his message was “cheered” with “warm applause” by the soldiers.
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Why do British soldiers hate the troops?
December 10th, 2007 at 11:32 amThe Coalition of the Gone Home
December 10th, 2007 at 11:33 amWhy does Brown support the terrorists?
*sarcasm*
December 10th, 2007 at 11:33 amGood. The Brits may be home in time for Christmas. I wish our men and women could be.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:34 amand there was great rejoicing heard throughout the land. Just not ours.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:34 amWhy does your mom hate freedom?
December 10th, 2007 at 11:34 amhttp://tshirtinsurgency.com/node/41
Just curious. Cause freedom’s dope!
Well the Brits are no longer with us, so they must be against us.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:36 amThese troops all have seen “the end of combat operations” before. Won’t mean a thing until they’re out of there. Besides, all the British soldiers are well aware that NATO needs some help in Afghanistan, so they could just be exiting the frying pan for the fire.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:41 amOddly, he calls it ‘your war’
December 10th, 2007 at 11:44 amNice of the Brits to leave the women of Basra at the mercy of Muslim radicals who, according to ThinkProgress and NBC News, have been terrorizing women who do not strictly adhere to their twisted fundamentalist view of Islamic law.
From ThinkProgress on November 24. 2007:
‘Women have become targets in a campaign of brutal violence, especially in Iraq’s second largest city, Basra — conservative, and overwhelmingly Shiite Muslim. “We hear about girls who are kidnapped or killed,†says this woman. “And we don’t know why.â€
The government knows why. Shiite militiamen and religious zealots are using Islam to tighten their control. This is a copy of a police file from Basra recording the details of more than 50 women murdered in the past five months. The police are often too scared to investigate the crimes.
Basra’s police chief says the murderers are Shiite extremists. “The women are killed, their bodies thrown in the streets with obscene notes attached. Some are stripped and dressed in scandalous clothing,†he says.’
December 10th, 2007 at 11:45 amBrown is a traitor !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess HE’S one of the terrorists now.
Maybe London needs a little “Shock and Awe”
December 10th, 2007 at 11:49 amSo the Brits should stay there forever?
BTW, as long as Hussein (our man for many years) was in power, Iraq was a secular state, Shiite radicals had no power and women had more rights than they do now.
You know, if you’re so concerned about women.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:50 am“Well the Brits are no longer with us, so they must be against us.”
I have a feeling I’m going to be eating “Freedom Muffins” with tomorrow’s breakfast.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:50 amthat’s some coalition, that coalition of the willing!
December 10th, 2007 at 11:51 amComment by Exley — December 10, 2007 @ 11:45 am
And how many murders were there in your state of New York the last year?
December 10th, 2007 at 11:53 amMaybe we should invade New York and raze it to the ground too.
Spoon says it best about Bush and his stupid F@cking war……
DONT MAKE ME A TARGET !!!!!!!
Here come a man from the star
We don’t know why he goes so far
And he keep on marching along beating his drum
Clubs and sticks and bats and balls
For nuclear dicks with their dialect drawls
That come from a parking lot town
Where nothing’ll live in the sun
Don’t make me a target
December 10th, 2007 at 11:55 amDon’t make me a target
How long does Exley propose that British and American troops remain in Iraq- six more months? Or perhaps six more years? Do I hear sixty more years? Perhaps the Brits and the Yanks should remain in Iraq forever or would that just be as long as the oil holds out in Iraq and then it is onto Saudi Arabia where they can control their oil supply. Exley may find this difficult to believe but the Americans and the British should not be running Iraq. Here is a novel concept. Why not allow the Iraqis to govern their own country and police their own citizens and have the U.S. and British exit Iraq as rapidly and as quickly as possible.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:57 amYeah, no needlessly dead British Soldiers for the holidays!!!
Merry Christmas Brits!!! :-)
Bush/Cheney/Exley
Hague Trials ‘09
Buck Fush
December 10th, 2007 at 11:59 amBRITISH PRIME MINISTER, GORDON BROWN, DECLARES IRAQ WAR OVER!
That’s right! He said the words ‘…war is over!’
Briish troops are to completely hand over Basra to Iraqi troops in two weeks, transition entirely from an offensive role to a training mission, draw down forces to HALF, and have all forces out by March!
Gordon Brown is only the Prime Minister of Great Britain; the only other occupying nation with any significant presence in Iraq and Americas number one ally. He says ‘war is over’ and there’s a virtual blackout of his words. There are only a few random reports that he was even in Iraq yesterday.
Is it just me or is something amiss?
December 10th, 2007 at 11:59 amGORDON Brown yesterday delivered a stirring festive message to Our Boys in Iraq: “Happy Christmas – war is over.”
The PM was cheered as he praised UK troops and revealed combat operations in Basra will end “within two weeks”.
Iraqi forces will take over as the 4,500-strong British force switches from front-line duties to a training role.
By early next year, our contingent in Southern Iraq will be cut to 2,500 – and may be withdrawn completely in March.
The PM broke the good news in a flying visit to Iraq.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article563496.ece
December 10th, 2007 at 12:02 pm“How long does Exley propose that British and American troops remain in Iraq- six more months?”
Hey, whatever gets Exley’s rocks off. Those memories of melting plastic army men in the backyard are just tooo sweeet.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:03 pmWayne, Erroll,
On November 24 when ThinkProgress posted the story on the violence against Basra’s women being perpetrated by radical Islamic fundamentalists, did you express similar sentiments?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:03 pmExley – please post all the required info to get enlisted. I will bring you your christmas wish by helping out any way i can to get you to the front lines…. im serious. i’ll set up the appointment for the recruiter, i’ll help you pack, i’ll pay for your taxi ride to the recruiters, and i’ll even kiss your mama goodbye for you…
im serious. are you ready to put up or shut up?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Comment by Exley — December 10, 2007 @ 11:45 am
exley, you old satan worshipper!
“If you read these far-left websites, you’re a devil worshipper. You are.â€
December 10th, 2007 at 12:04 pm– bill o’reilly, 12.07.07
Chevron, et al., are not smiling
December 10th, 2007 at 12:04 pmim serious. are you ready to put up or shut up?
Comment by Fan of Man — December 10, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
stand back and watch spin!
December 10th, 2007 at 12:05 pmIs it just me or is something amiss?
Comment by questionauthority — December 10, 2007 @ 11:59 am
Everything is fine in the Orwellian States of America, why do you ask?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:05 pmBasra’s police chief says the murderers are Shiite extremists. “The women are killed, their bodies thrown in the streets with obscene notes attached. Some are stripped and dressed in scandalous clothing,†he says.’
Comment by Exley — December 10, 2007 @ 11:45 am
Sadly enough, Saddam protected women from this sort of extremism, Ex-Lax. Do you EVER have a REAL point to make?
BTW, you never answered my question from yesterday. Were you afraid to? Embarrassed? Or simply HAD NO IDEA?
Why did the CIA quit waterboarding in 2005? If it was so vital to national security, why did they quit? Bad intel? Fear of legal issues?
Com’n, Li’l Ex-Lax, thrill us w/ your acumen.
Cool Jingle Ballsâ„¢, too… nice to see you in holiday spirits.
Ching-ching-a-ling.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:08 pmEverything is fine in the Orwellian States of America, why do you ask?
Comment by Wayne — December 10, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
that’s right.
love is hate.
war is peace.
minister of truth exley.
hello, i must be going.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:10 pmBasra’s police chief says the murderers are Shiite extremists. “The women are killed, their bodies thrown in the streets with obscene notes attached. Some are stripped and dressed in scandalous clothing,†he says.’
Comment by Exley — December 10, 2007 @ 11:45 am
But…the surge is working!
December 10th, 2007 at 12:14 pmBut…freedom is on the march!
But…but…butt
i’ll help you pack…
Comment by Fan of Man — December 10, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
Depends “Extra-Strength” Adult Diapers?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:14 pmYes, as soon as coalition forces step down, the Shiite extremists will step up.
These people are such children, they surely need our protection from themselves, right, Exley?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:16 pmNice of the Brits to leave the women of Basra at the mercy of Muslim radicals who, according to ThinkProgress and NBC News, have been terrorizing women who do not strictly adhere to their twisted fundamentalist view of Islamic law…From ThinkProgress on November 24. 2007:
‘Women have become targets in a campaign of brutal violence, especially in Iraq’s second largest city, Basra — conservative, and overwhelmingly Shiite Muslim.(snip)
Comment by Exley — December 10, 2007 @ 11:45 am
Newsflash, Exley…….
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=3977702&page=1
Yeah, Exley…good thing the corrupt bushbot nutbars from the US are there to ‘protect the women’ in Iraq..eh? Maybe the Brits should stay to protect them from US.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:20 pmWell, the blood of the Iraqis will be on British hands when the violence spirals out of control.
Comment by Frank M — December 10, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
###
But I thought that everything was all better in Iraq?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:22 pmWell, the blood of the Iraqis will be on British hands when the violence spirals out of control.
when has the violence been “controlled”?
oh yeah when SADDAM was keeping the masses in check.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:23 pm6 days
December 10th, 2007 at 12:23 pm6 weeks
6 months
Frank M, the violence sprialed out of control several years ago. Is that blood on Bush’s hands?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:24 pm#30, Ah, PLC, you inadvertently put your finger on a very important distinction. Indeed, the surge is working and has resulted in a dramati decrease in violence in Iraq, Even John Murtha and Gen. Batiste (who was once TP’s favorite general –now they ignore him) now acknowledge that.
But the surge is an American operation. It is focused in areas like Baghdad and Anbar province.
Basra, on the other hand, was/is under British control. It is not part of the surge. Thus, it has not benefited from the success of the Bush/Petraeus surge. Indeed, as we see, rather than a surge to decrease the violence in Basra, the British are standing down — even in the face of the radical Islamic violence against women.
So, unfortunately, the British decision to withdraw before the job is done may mean that once again the U.S. will have to take up the slack where other nations have failed. While that is good news for the women of Basra, who will see a dramatic decrease in violence if a U.S. surge takes place in Basra, it is unfortunate that US troops will have to bear the burden that the British have now apparently shirked off.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:24 pmWhere is the victory?….The political power in Basra,the second largest city in Iraq, and the main port of Iraqi oil export, now is in the hands of religious Shiates militias.
They have the power.
Can England or the Coalition say..we won?!!
December 10th, 2007 at 12:27 pmComment by Exley — December 10, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
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exley, you old satan worshipper!
“If you read these far-left websites, you’re a devil worshipper. You are.â€
December 10th, 2007 at 12:27 pm- bill o’reilly, 12.07.07
Comment by Frank M — December 10, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
frank m, getting in a little satan worship this morning?
“If you read these far-left websites, you’re a devil worshipper. You are.â€
December 10th, 2007 at 12:29 pm- bill o’reilly, 12.07.07
Comment by Exley — December 10, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
###
All the surge has done is move the violence out of Baghdad to other areas that were previously peaceful. Violence has decreased in Baghdad, but increased in other areas. And senior military commanders are saying that the violence tapering off in Baghdad is more because of Sadr’s cease-fire than anything else. If Sadr’s Mahdi Army defeats the Iranian backed Badr militia, or if Sunni lawmakers continue to stir up the Iraqi parliament, the violence in Baghdad will shoot back up again. I talk to friends living in the IZ everyday, who feel that the surge has produced a very temporary relief for a small area.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:30 pmit is unfortunate that US troops will have to bear the burden that the British have now apparently shirked off.
Comment by Exley — December 10, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
Indeed, why does Britain hate America so?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:31 pmPrediction: In the next week you will see pictures of American officials shaking hands with Brown, and all the right-wing pundits claiming that the British accomplished the mission, with the help of the surge.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:35 pmLet’s hear it for Gordon Brown, hip, hip, hoorah!
Hip, hip, hoorah!
December 10th, 2007 at 12:37 pmAnyone want to take bets on Sarkozy sending French troops in?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:40 pmWell, the blood of the Iraqis will be on British hands when the violence spirals out of control.
Comment by Frank M — December 10, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
No, it’ll be on Bush’s. Remember, we invaded Iraq, deposed the tyrant, all’s well, right?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:41 pmAnyone want to take bets on Sarkozy sending French troops in?
-Comment by Chris L
Are they needed? Exley says Basra has enough whores.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:43 pmIndeed, why does Britain hate America so?
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — December 10, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
ex (you old satan worshipper you!) this one deserves one of your long winded, meandering, stephen hadley like, makes-no-sense answers. can you cook one of those up for us old buddy?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:43 pmSo the Brits should stay there forever?
Comment by Frosty Cupcake — December 10, 2007 @ 11:50 am
Didn’t you hear? CHL was kind enough to share some “key excerpts” from a speech made by a couple of warmongers the other day in WaPo:
“This struggle, the Long War, will probably take decades to prosecute.”
Bastards.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:44 pmCantwell,
Re: ‘Orwellian States of America’…
Looks like it’s time to move the goal posts again:
1. Saddam is gone.
2. W’sMD don’t exist.
3. Iraq has a constitution, a government, and elections.
4. As long as there’s millions of Iraqis displaced, ethnic cleansing, and payoffs to insurgents not to kill American troops- the ’surge is successful.’
5. And now, the British Prime Minister says ‘…war is over!’.
What will the next goal be? Don’t be concerned that;
1. A majority of Congress want America out.
2. A majority of the Iraqi Parliament want America out.
3. A vast majority of Americans and Iraqis want America out.
4. A majority of Iraqis believe it’s okay to kill Americans to make us leave.
Exley,
Re: “Nice of the Brits to leave the women of Basra at the mercy of Muslim radicals…”
From the Iraq Constitution-
” Article (2):
1st — Islam is the official religion of the state and is a basic source of legislation”
The British troops aren’t the problem; the problem would be, imho, a church/state issue and how Islam traditionally views/treats Muslim women.
Thats right folks, our troops have been fighting and dying to create a nation with Islam as it’s state mandated religion.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:47 pmComment by Exley — December 10, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
But wait, I thought the surge worked?
Personally I take your comments exley as more proof that the surge has not worked.
I really worry about what we have unleashed in that country.
Tell me again how we are safer now because of the war?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:54 pmTell me again how we are safer now because of the war?
Comment by DigDug — December 10, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
###
You don’t understand – we are only safer if the troops STAY over there – fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them here – the terrorists will follow the troops home.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:56 pmIraq reviewing prisoners’ amnesty
The Iraqi government is reviewing a possible amnesty for thousands of people convicted of insurgency-related offenses, officials say.
LOOKS LIKE AMERICA LOST
December 10th, 2007 at 1:02 pm#30, Ah, PLC, you inadvertently put your finger on a very important distinction. Indeed, the surge is working and has resulted in a dramati decrease in violence in Iraq, Even John Murtha and Gen. Batiste (who was once TP’s favorite general –now they ignore him) now acknowledge that.
You never respond, Exley, to my NYTimes posts about the question of stability and the “success” of the surge. You persist in making the same assertions, over and over, without acknowledging the temporary nature of success. So pay attention!
December 10th, 2007 at 1:03 pmThings just aren’t so damn rosy.
You don’t understand – we are only safer if the troops STAY over there – fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them here – the terrorists will follow the troops home.
Comment by Chris L — December 10, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
Hence the Long War (the freaking bastards!). They’ll be able to use that excuse forever!
December 10th, 2007 at 1:03 pmExley wtill thinks the world is better off without Saddam. the world knows it would be better off without Bush.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:04 pmIraq reviewing prisoners’ amnesty
The Iraqi government is reviewing a possible amnesty for thousands of people convicted of insurgency-related offenses, officials say.
LOOKS LIKE AMERICA LOST BIG TIME
http://www.presstv.ir/
December 10th, 2007 at 1:04 pmlets hope American troops have left Iraq by the time they release all the terrorists from the jails
December 10th, 2007 at 1:05 pmYou don’t understand – we are only safer if the troops STAY over there – fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them here – the terrorists will follow the troops home.
Comment by Chris L
So you are suggesting we stay over there until every last terrorist is dead? Do you really believe that’s ever going to happen? Do really believe we’ll ever be able to kill even most of them? They’re trickling in constantly from other countries. Your idea sets us up to be there forever. Or at least several decades. At the full force size that we’re currently at. You realize this is insane right? And not to mention, totally paranoid.
A more sane solution to me would be to bring our troops back, let the Iraqi government fight them there. And as for them trying to follow us here, well, that’s what port security is about. This is something we’ve got to face eventually. We are not going to kill every terrorist in the world by fighting in Iraq.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:08 pmA more sane solution to me would be to bring our troops back, let the Iraqi government fight them there. And as for them trying to follow us here, well, that’s what port security is about. This is something we’ve got to face eventually. We are not going to kill every terrorist in the world by fighting in Iraq.
Comment by DigDug — December 10, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
###
Dude, there was a tremendous amount of snarkiness in that comment. I am an OIF veteran who spent a year and a half in Baghdad. I have been saying we need to bring the troops home for the last 3 years.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:11 pmComment by DigDug — December 10, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
well, I think Chris L was being sarcastic, but it never hurts to bring up the point that Homeland Security is the biggest government boondoggle in out history.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:12 pmComment by Chris L
Hehe, sorry, didn’t catch the snark
December 10th, 2007 at 1:19 pm“MISSION ACOMPLISHED 2″ THE MUSICAL!
December 10th, 2007 at 1:26 pmThat is what happens when you go alone invading and occupying other countries basing your policies on lies. You get a ‘Coalition of the Coerced’. We in Australia kiked Jonny right-wing Howard out because he went along with the WAR CRIMINALS in the White House. Wake up american people, you are alone!!!!!
December 10th, 2007 at 1:29 pmOh yeah, you have Kazakstan, Pakistan and Israel as company! You are done! Hahahahaha!
December 10th, 2007 at 1:33 pmdemocrats should give Bush no money until after the decision on 31st dec 07 UN Mandate for foreign troops being in Iraq
I have a big feeling thats why thers so little American troops deaths they wants Americans OUT
whats the bets
December 10th, 2007 at 1:35 pmwhat nobody has mentioned here is there have been NO BRITISH CASUALTIES FOR THREE MONTHS THROUGH HOSTILE FIRE
NO DEATHS AT ALL
AMERICA FOLLOW SUIT
December 10th, 2007 at 1:38 pm05-Sep-2007
UK Sergeant Eddie Collins – killed Iraq – Hostile – hostile fire
This was the Last british death through hostile fire
OVER 3 MONTHS AGO
December 10th, 2007 at 1:41 pmDigDug & others,
Re: “A more sane solution to me would be to bring our troops back, let the Iraqi government fight them there.”
NAILED IT!!!
It is unbelievable that after 4+ years the Iraqis can’t handle there own affairs by now!
December 10th, 2007 at 1:44 pmAmerica has one of the most powerful industrial/military infastructues in the history of mankind and we’re supposed to be afraid of a bunch of thugs in hoods riding around in pickup trucks? Give me a break!
Main street media has been showing the same videos, of the same ‘terrorists’, training on the same monkey bars for years.
If the Iraqis can’t handle ‘them…over there’, and our Army, Navy, Air Force, & Marines can’t protect us over here, then we’re in an awful sorry state.
Wait… that’s how GW Bogus and the Lie Factory have been playing it…
Lawyers for a detainee at the U.S. detention facility in Guantanamo Bay have asked for a court to bar the government from destroying evidence in his case.
December 10th, 2007 at 2:26 pmIn a complete capitulation to Bush and the Republican war machine, Congress is expected to vote on Monday, December 10, to approve continued funding for the occupation of Iraq with NO STRINGS ATTACHED!
Any ideas how this is going
December 10th, 2007 at 2:27 pmWAR IS OVER????!!!!! WHAT? HAVE THE PUPPET IRAQUI GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS TO HIDE INSIDE A GREEN ZONE, SGINED CONTRACTS FOR THE OIL PROFITEERING YET???!!!!
December 10th, 2007 at 3:01 pmexley?
exley, are you… crying?
December 10th, 2007 at 3:06 pmNOT ONE BRITISH TROOP KILLED IN HOSTILITY IN 3 MONTHS
british troops cut a deal with the Madhi army to leave Basra palace in one piece , and had to release 85 Madhi army prisoners in exchange
The deals working , Thats what the US are doing with the Sunnis and the Medhi army
December 10th, 2007 at 4:05 pmit is unfortunate that US troops will have to bear the burden that the British have now apparently shirked off.
Comment by Exley — December 10, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
Yes – that awful burden of tending to peaceful provinces that have been pacified simply by leaving those poor people alone, as the British have been doing lo these many Friedmans….
Don’t worry Ex – our mercenaries should be able to rekindle the bloodlust in Basra in no time. That’s something I’ll let you and the Cheerleader Prince take credit for.
Now grab a broom, and get to work cleaning up all the split hairs you’ve littered this place with – that alone should keep you busy til this time next year.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:26 pmAs far as I can see the troops, be they US, UK or whoever, have to come home sometime. They are in a foreign country. A country surrounded by others who have a distrust longheld and with some good reason of Western motives. Right or wrong whatever the reasons for going – they are a major part of the problem now. The community is divided on religious grounds and the troops being there will not change this. Some people seem to criticise the troops for talking with groups who have used violence . However history shows that in the end dialogue works better than the bullet. It happenned in Northern ireland. We didnt talk and the bombings and killings went on for years. When we did things began to improve. The people of Iraq have to decide on how they deal with some of the criminal gangs operating there under the guise of religion. In Basra that is happenning now in an effort to end the tortures and murders that have been taking place. I hope it continues. I welcome our troops coming home, and hope that the US troops follow soon.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:42 am