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Andrew Cline has been editorial page editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader since October of 2001. His writing has appeared in more than 100 newspapers and magazines, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and National Review.An Iraq meltdown: Basra's cautionary tale
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Reader commentsTHE SOUTHERN Iraqi city of Basra was a thriving port city for most of the past four years. British forces maintained security, which allowed the economy and civil society to flourish. But the British have withdrawn most of their troops, and thugs have taken over.
"As British forces pull back from Basra in southern Iraq, Shiite militias there have escalated a violent battle against each other for political supremacy and control over oil resources," The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
"Three major Shiite political groups are locked in a bloody conflict that has left the city in the hands of militias and criminal gangs, whose control extends to municipal offices and neighborhood streets."
The absence of British troops has allowed the rival Shiite organizations to turn their feuding into all-out street battles. The remaining British forces spend most of their time in their base, not daring to venture out.
This is just a taste of what is likely to happen if the Democrats get their way and U.S. forces are withdrawn prematurely from Iraq. This war is not yet lost. If we retreat now, it will be.
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YOUR COMMENTS
the Brits aren't the allies they used to be.
Us brits are losing more troops now than ever before, we are getting bombs left around London, and are Army is streched to the max, and we are standing side by side with are the Americans, and giving the most soldiers despite Britain is smaller than Florida.
So think next time before you say we are not strong allies, because I think you will find we are.
And lets face it, there will never be peace in Iraq, these people will allways be fighting, even in 20 years 40 years!!
- Andrew Laird, Hertfordshire, England
I would like to take eception to some of has been written here. Since 1992 I have been in REGULAR communication with Iraqi scientists in the Basrah area. Since late 2004 I have received emails about iranian influence; in Dec 2005 one of my friend's colleagues was kidnapped and murdered; he believed that "assassination lists" were being sent in from Iran--and he believed his name was on the list. In 2006 he wrote that "basrah will be the battle with Iran". Numerous letters addressed his frustration with the LACK of effort by the British to secure Basrah. He is desparately trying to get out of Basrah (morter shells/rockets aimed at the US/British consulates have landed in his garage!)--and another "penpal" just got to Kuwait and is trying to get his family out. The problems in Basrah have been on-going for YEARS--but there was no press coverage here!! My friends are terrified--and, by the way, they are Shia--not sunni--and they are being terorized by radical shia ("Shiite Taleban" as he wrote once).
If our allies had taken a HARDER more AGGRESSIVE stance in the south, the situation might be much different.
the Iraqi government may, with our help, eventually gasin control in the central-north of Iraq--but I fear the south is lost to Iran!
- stephen grabe, seminole fl
Instead of blaming Pres Bush for EVERYTHING, let's just acknowledge that the current security mess in Basra is due to Britain's lack of political will. Let's face it, the Brits aren't the allies they used to be.
- Jay, Denver,co
"Would Democrats possibly take responsibility for the deaths of innocent Iraquis caused by violent Iraquis if they—the Democrats—engineer a surrender/pullout of US troops?"
The bigger question is, will Mr. Bush acknowledge that the entire war is a boondoggle and that every single death, be it a US Soldier or an Iraqi, is blood on HIS hands? Regardless of what happens next, the American people will never forget who STARTED this war of choice.
- Tim Resnick, Calais
Would Democrats possibly take responsibility for the deaths of innocent Iraquis caused by violent Iraquis if they—the Democrats—engineer a surrender/pullout of US troops?
- Bob Kroepel, New Durham
Ewan,
Please disregard the "seataffer" and his comments. You have to understand, some Americans will blame everyone (including our loyal allies) except President Bush. Our country has become so polarized politically that objectivity is an endangered spices. For his comments I apologize.
- John, Manchester
"The remaining British forces spend most of their time in their base, not daring to venture out."
Interesting.
How come 90% of the violence in Basra is directed against British troops and we've already lost 4 troops there in the last two days? If they're "not daring to venture out" how come we're being hit with record casualties and attacks?!
- Ewan Watt, London
This is just a taste of what is likely to happen if the Democrats get their way and US forces are withdrawn prematurely from Iraq. This war is not yet lost. If we retreat now, it will be.
.. Duh, did democrats force british troop withdrawal from basra?
.. you cleverly shift the failure of iraqi military takeover & manipulate events to cast doubt on democrat's, & a majority of american's, alternate strategy.
.. it was essentially YOUR urging which got us into iraq 4.5 years ago & the ensuing quagmire which now exists, & yet when abler heads than yours try to discontinue your inanity, you bark 'stay the quagmire, your way will bring disaster'.
.. disaster, has already occurred, thanks to you.
- seataffer, wilkes barre pennsy
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