NationStates Jolt Archive

The BBC are reporting that Gordon Brown has said that Britain will finish its tasks and be out of Iraq by July.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7787103.stm

Is this realistic? To me it seems a bit sudden and more related to a election success than reality, even though I feel it is a positive step.

Where does it leave the US?

I think it's a positive step - also, the UK will be maintaining a presence there via combat trainers and some other support staff, I think I also heard on the radio that 'marine or naval support' will also be maintained too.

As for the US - isn't Obama somewhat committed to withdrawing troop levels in Iraq, although I forget if a timescale has been set upon yet... so it wouldn't really affect US operaitons in Iraq (they seem to do things by themselves anyways).

Erk. Where will people going to Helmand cut their teeth?

Erk. Where will people going to Helmand cut their teeth?

The Coventry Ring Road?
:P

On a more serious note - perhaps they could be stationed in another (less dangerous) Province in Afghanistan before having to experience happy Helmand land.

I am guessing I am probably alone in that every time I hear the phrase "British troops in Helmand province" I can't help thinking for a second that we are fighting a war over mayonnaise

I am guessing I am probably alone in that every time I hear the phrase "British troops in Helmand province" I can't help thinking for a second that we are fighting a war over mayonnaise

Bwahahahahha!:D

Mayonnaise indeed - suprised that the expansive mayonnaise fields in the west of Helmand haven't featured on the news!

Mayonnaise indeed - suprised that the expansive mayonnaise fields in the west of Helmand haven't featured on the news!

It's a shame they can't sell it directly to the salad industry. Instead it just gets onto our streets cut with salad cream and cheap vinaigrette.

It's a shame they can't sell it directly to the salad industry. Instead it just gets onto our streets cut with salad cream and cheap vinaigrette.

Hahaha! Stop it now.

I really must stop threadjacking my own threads

It's a shame they can't sell it directly to the salad industry. Instead it just gets onto our streets cut with salad cream and cheap vinaigrette.

Think of all the victims it has... so many thousands addicted to its creaminess... I even heard the once that there have been instances of creamy corruption in the rank and file of police!

To think!..
:P

Think of all the victims it has... so many thousands addicted to its creaminess... I even heard the once that there have been instances of creamy corruption in the rank and file of police!

To think!..
:P

I must admit to some past use myself, I usualy cut it with boiled eggs!

It's a Mandelson ploy.

He's actually going to sell off the british army.

When will the rest of the “coalition of the killing” (you know Albania, The Marshall Islands, Palau, …) leave Iraq?

you know Albania, The Marshall Islands, Palau

Yes, these are powerful war machines of countries, aren't they. Do they even have soldiers in Iraq?

When will the rest of the “coalition of the killing” (you know Albania, The Marshall Islands, Palau, …) leave Iraq?
'11

we have a new status of forces agreement that pulls the troops back to the cities by the end of next summer (whatever that means) and limits involvement to support and training of iraqi military unil the last of our forces are removed in '11, leaving no bases and no residual troops.

i assume that goes for every country that is still involved.

Yes, these are powerful war machines of countries, aren't they. Do they even have soldiers in Iraq?

According http://pwhce.org/willing.html it is.

:)

It's a Mandelson ploy.

He's actually going to sell off the british army.

To the BNP

I think it's a positive step - also, the UK will be maintaining a presence there via combat trainers and some other support staff, I think I also heard on the radio that 'marine or naval support' will also be maintained too.

As for the US - isn't Obama somewhat committed to withdrawing troop levels in Iraq, although I forget if a timescale has been set upon yet... so it wouldn't really affect US operaitons in Iraq (they seem to do things by themselves anyways).

Obama is committed to doing absolutely everything good that it is possible (or not) to do. Obama has promised everyone all but everything, so we'll see where we are after he does some things, rather than jsut promising some things.

yeah this rumour has been going round lately but tbqh I don't believe it

still we won as always so gin all round tally ho!

Erk. Where will people going to Helmand cut their teeth?

worse still is where will our troops spend their leave?

...course as it turns out people our buying properties in Iraq now

When will the rest of the “coalition of the killing” (you know Albania, The Marshall Islands, Palau, …) leave Iraq?

did the glorious Polish army ever find the keys to all their vehicles? :p

Obama is committed to doing absolutely everything good that it is possible (or not) to do. Obama has promised everyone all but everything, so we'll see where we are after he does some things, rather than jsut promising some things.

Even still - what Obama does with regards to troop levels in Iraq matters very little because the Iraqi Government voted to reduce US troop levels/operations in Iraq anyway (besides which, taking a pot shot at a President-Elect who doesn't actually wield any official power yet is a little... crappy heh).

'11

we have a new status of forces agreement that pulls the troops out of the cities by the end of next summer (whatever that means) and limits involvement to support and training of iraqi military unil the last of our forces are removed in '11, leaving no bases and no residual troops.

i assume that goes for every country that is still involved.Fixed. They're pulling U.S. troops out of the cities, not confining them to them. Under the agreement, all US soldiers are supposed to be out of Iraqi cities by June 30th, but there will still be a few trainers/advisors left in the cities by that date for the Iraqi Army. (Who's also scheduled to take over the security of the cities on that day.)

When will the rest of the “coalition of the killing” (you know Albania, The Marshall Islands, Palau, …) leave Iraq?Considering that the US has more than ten times the amount of soldiers deployed in Iraq than all of those countries combined, wouldn't you rather have us out soonest? :rolleyes:

Grats Britian, youre now part of "Old Europe". And we're no longer together. We'll be coming by your place next week to pick up our stuff.

Grats Britian, youre now part of "Old Europe". And we're no longer together. We'll be coming by your place next week to pick up our stuff.
Sorry, what was that?

We were busy kissing France.

About time.

When will the rest of the “coalition of the killing” (you know Albania, The Marshall Islands, Palau, …) leave Iraq?

Im Reall Scared :p

as for us Russians we have basicly our own War on Terror, those Chechneyan Bastards, Decapiateing our Soldiers, Killing our men on Site

Makes me wanna H-Bomb their Capitial

Fixed. They're pulling U.S. troops out of the cities, not confining them to them. Under the agreement, all US soldiers are supposed to be out of Iraqi cities by June 30th, but there will still be a few trainers/advisors left in the cities by that date for the Iraqi Army. (Who's also scheduled to take over the security of the cities on that day.)
ok

but i think i make the mistake (over and over) because i dont understand what it means. if they are out of the city, where are they going to be?

ok

but i think i make the mistake (over and over) because i dont understand what it means. if they are out of the city, where are they going to be?Established bases around Iraq, mostly, and many of the soldiers will be shipped home over the coming years, until there aren't any left. :)

Established bases around Iraq, mostly, and many of the soldiers will be shipped home over the coming years, until there aren't any left. :)
so in essense its all over at the end of summer?

what about all those blackwater mercenaries? what is their status now?

so in essense its all over at the end of summer?

what about all those blackwater mercenaries? what is their status now?

Illegal combatants

so in essense its all over at the end of summer?
Well, it's all over for (most of) the UK and US armed forces, but not, obviously, for Iraqis.

Moreover, if the attacks in Mumbai are anything to go by (gunmen looking specifically for UK or US citizens), it's hardly over for anybody.

Well, it's all over for (most of) the UK and US armed forces, but not, obviously, for Iraqis.

Moreover, if the attacks in Mumbai are anything to go by (gunmen looking specifically for UK or US citizens), it's hardly over for anybody.
oh its going to be a whole different story for the iraqis once we are all gone.

not probably a GOOD story but one of their own making.

I say we should ban guns and go back to the old fashioned arts of war with swords and shields etc...it gives countries like Iraq a better chance against supertechgiants deploying cruise missles.
of course i have no doubts that the US will simply make superswords the size of trees that fly through the air or some shit, goddamn techheads.

Sorry, what was that?

We were busy kissing France.

I knew you were cheating on us.

I knew you were cheating on us.
*hides croissant*

Is this realistic? To me it seems a bit sudden and more related to a election success than reality, even though I feel it is a positive step.

?


Sure they did a deal with the locals that they'd stay at the airport and not interfere with them, if they stopped the attacks.....Its a farce. Afghanistan is where they're fighting now. They stopped even trying to sell Iraq some time ago.

Is this realistic?

I didn't think that was an issue any more.

*hides croissant*

Daft lol
:P

Considering that the US has more than ten times the amount of soldiers deployed in Iraq than all of those countries combined, wouldn't you rather have us out soonest? :rolleyes:

isn't it odd how Britain has deployed less troops and yet has managed to get the job done sooner then :p

what about all those blackwater mercenaries? what is their status now?

they can be tried in Iraqi courts iirc

not probably a GOOD story but one of their own making.

you can't say its exactly going bad for them though