Bremner, Bird & Fortune and Iraq

[Sisyphus]

Anyone see this the other night? It's a sad indictment when the British public have to get info on Iraq (or at least get reminded of the history) from a TV programme on political satire. For the young un's: The middle east used to be a loose grouping of tribes ruled by the Ottoman Empire. After WWI the British drew lines in the sand and created Iraq (and other countries). Naturally, the locals were not best chuffed. As a result in 1919 Iraqi villages were bombed for the first time - by the British of course! However, this didn't work so the RAF asked for a supply of "gas bombs", so the British were the first to use chemical warfare in Iraq. I guess Saddam is just jealous and is trying to copy us?!?

The programme also discussed the very heavy personal interest/investment in oil companies that most of the senior yanks involve have.

Naturally, the creation of new Middle East countries with "friendly" sheiks put in charge wasn't a first. When Livingstone had "discovered" Central Africa there were no countries, just tribal lands. So in go the British and draw lines through the jungle in an area where there were 150 tribes speaking 79 different languages, and create present-day Zambia. (and the rest) Mainly so we could more easily exploit the mineral wealth and other assets. Not much concern for the locals, then. Easy to criticize in hindsight but it turned out a recipe for disaster in the future. Biggest problem in Zimbabwe (apart from Mugabe) is the conflict between the two main African tribes.
So much for our glorious Imperial past. I comfort myself that we did more good than harm but have to be honest and admit we got rich by exploiting less "civilized" people.

[El Prez]

Your personality disorder is presenting it's numerous facets; today we will post five/six or seven times, yippppeeeee!

Yes it was an illuminating prog. I posted somewhere else about the info on our troops poor quality equipment.

[Artist]

Gis a hint

What are you doing to the forum!

Iraq. say no more. God help this world.

Aye steve evans

[El Prez]

Quote from a comedy prog on the radio last night "It's good that Tony Blair doesn't have to make difficult and dangerous decisions any more; how lucky that we have another country to make them for us! It's rather like having a style guru for the country."
A politician just came out with this one during a discussion, she described War as "a Complex Political Emergency." So that makes it allright then.

[Pilgrim Norway]

I see from our text TV that the leaders of the European Union - Germany -
are the major suppliers of military equipment to - yes - Iraq...

This latest fling should ensure full employment to all EU countries....

I knew that there were benefits in there somewhere.

'Aye

[El Prez]

Been there done that, Royal strikes again...........
Daily Telegraph
Re: Stopping the Iraqi adventure
Date: 9 January 2003

Sir - While I do not doubt the gist of Group Captain Harry King's letter (Jan 3), he is completely incorrect in the inference that HQ 38 Group, 3 Infantry Division and 16 Parachute Brigade were the main troops on the scene at the start of the June/July 1961 Kuwait affair.

On Thursday June 29, 45 Commando Royal Marines, based in Aden, was placed at 12 hours' notice to move to Kuwait; at the same time, 42 Commando Royal Marines, based on HMS Bulwark, then in Karachi, was ordered to sail "with dispatch" to the Kuwait area.

These two were the first major units into Kuwait; 42 Commando flew ashore by helicopter and secured the new Kuwaiti airport, where 45 Commando then landed in a variety of aircraft from Aden on July 1. Ten Hunter aircraft of 8 Squadron from Bahrain joined the Commandos later that afternoon, along with 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards from Bahrain.

This force, joined by half a squadron of the Carabiniers in Centurion tanks, was first on the ground in Kuwait over the period July 1-2: 2nd Parachute Battalion arrived on July 3.

The rapid deployment of this varied group put a timely stop to any potential Iraqi adventure.

From:
Col Peter Clough, Ashburton, Devon

[Rotary Booty]

Damn, I missed the TV show, but I'm glad I didn't miss Col Clough's letter; wonderful.
I heard on the radio today that they are calling President Bush 'The Dim Reaper'.

[Chunky]

SIS,
recommend you read 'Peacemakers' by Macmillan. Talks about some of the things u mentioned, and then some. Enlightening but also extremely disheartening as history often repeats itself.