Keeping our troops in Iraq

[rov1200]

Why is our government so desparate to keep our troops in Iraq after being told we are no longer welcome there?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7 794646.stm

[jake-the-peg]

Probably for the same reason we didn't widraw from Northern Ireland just because Gerry Adams said we weren't welcome

They realise that withdrawing too early might result in a bloody civil war followed by a militant islamic government or worse still a Somalia-like failed state.

That wouldn't be in the interests of either the Iraqis or us.

[sqad617]

rov...I thought that our Government was keen to remove our troops by middle of 2009.I didn't even know that the Iraqi Government had had a vote on whether or not they wanted us to stay after that date.
Confused sqad.

[anotheoldgit]

Perhaps the criminals that took us to war are scared of the end results of any inquiry that may take place, at the end of hostilities, when they have to finally account for their actions.

[youngmafbog]

And what criminals are they then AOG ?

[RevFunk]

We should pull out tomorrow and let them kill themselves. Same as the africans they arent happy unless theyre butchering another tribe.

[R1Geezer]

I agree with RevFunk. We tried to help we went in with good intentions. We paid with the bl00d of our young troops. There is no hope for them, civil war is innevitable, let them kill each other, death is after all the stock in trade of Islam.

[anotheoldgit]

How do you get away with it Rev? I have been held in contempt for saying much less.

[anotheoldgit]

youngmafbog

And what criminals are they then AOG ?

Whoops!!! Allegedly, Allegedly, youngma.

[Gromit]

AOG

You and the Tory leadership seem to have conveniently forgotten the results of the vote for war with Iraq in 2003.

There were just 149 votes against. 139 of those votes were Labour MPs and t 10 were Tories.

Fortunately the Conservative leadership were as keen for war and their leadership instructed Tory MPs to vote with Blair, and the motion was easily carried.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2862325 .stm

[Gromit]

AOG

You and the Tory leadership seem to have conveniently forgotten the results of the vote for war with Iraq in 2003.

There were just 149 votes against. 139 of those votes were Labour MPs and t 10 were Tories.

Fortunately the Conservative leadership were as keen for war and their leadership instructed Tory MPs to vote with Blair, and the motion was easily carried.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2862325 .stm

[danchip]

at least they are earning their money over there

[jake-the-peg]

So Rev, Geezer

Your starter for 10.

After a withdrawall and the inevitable civil war what do you think will happen then?

Everyone will go away and never bother blighty again?

Thankfully we still have politicians of all flavours with the ability to think beyond 18 months

[sqad617]

Gromit....you are quite correct, but just let us go back those 5or more years and remember why we went to war with Iraq.
Saddam had taken on Iran in a bloody war, using chemical warfare, twice invaded Kuwait, slaughtered the Kurds in Northern Iraq and there was the question of weapons of mass destruction..........and he had OIL. He would only allow the UN to inspect spasmodically, Iraq for these ?WMD..
I was sh.t scared then of Mr.Hussein and wanted rid of him.
The problem is that nobody gave any thought to running the country after the war.

I am also rather sick of hearing how many military personel have lost their lives and the pathetic and insincere condolances of all 3 Party leaders. Let us get this in perspective.....you join the forces knowing that you might have to go to war and for Christ's sake in War 2 nearly 50.000 died in Bomber Command alone.
We can leave Iraq to kill themselves, but it was the UN that put them in this situation and hence we should "tough it out"

[rov1200]

The original arrangement was for our troops to depart by July 2009 but a recent vote in the Iraqi parliament only gave us permission to stay until the end of this year (ie for about another 9 days) and after that we were there illegally. I see that same parliament ar taking another vote to extend it.

But it put the kybosh on the British plans: I suppose they are not able to arrange shipment in such a short space of time. You would have thought that the politicians were jumping with glee about our early exit but no, they felt aggrieved especially as the Yanks have permission to stay there longer. Thats all the thanks we get for costing us �billions and losing over 100 troops.

[Gromit]

rov1200

You make it sound like they should be grateful we illegally invaded their country.

[Gormless]

Pull them out. There will be a period of apparent peace, then, Arabs and Islam being what they are, civil wars will resume. Wait a few years until the threat to the West and world peace gets too problematic, then go back in and shoot them up again.

Some cultures and peoples are intrinsically incapable of living in peace. Backward savages.

[terambulan]

'cause the Saudis want us in Iraq else Kuwait will be invaded again (have u forgotten) and since the invasion of Iraq less planes have been hijacked & buildings attacked.

[Gromit]

terambulan

7/7, Madrid train bomings, Bali and Sharm all happened after the invasion of Iraq,

[R1Geezer]

I've said many times Jake, I don't know. Here's your starter for 10. How long should we try and hold the factions apart?

Better to let them have their civil war and then presumably turn into another terrorist academy, that's what you are getting at I guess. Just use air power to control them if they become a threat. I don't have the answers but I'm getting sick of hearing about the deaths of our troops.

Let them get on with there standard barbarity, I just don't give a sh1t for one of the loonies.

Yes Gromit and co the Tories did vote for the war. I guess many of them probably now feel that it was wrong as I do but at the time our intentions where good, is no one allowed to alter their view after new information?

[Gromit]

R1Geezer

I'm fine with people changing their minds. Do you think the Tory MPs that have changed their minds are criminals as this this comment seemed to suggest?

the criminals that took us to war are scared of the end results of any inquiry that may take place, at the end of hostilities, when they have to finally account for their actions.