Who does he think he is?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ir aq/article3671530.ece

The Times has learnt, however, that when Britain's most senior officer in Basra, Brigadier Julian Free, commander of 4 Mechanised Brigade, flew into the city to find out what was going on, Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, who was orchestrating the attacks on militia strongholds, declined to see him.

A defence source played down the snub, saying: "Mr al-Maliki only deals with people at a certain level." The source added that Major-General Barney White-Spunner, the British General Officer Commanding Multinational Division Southeast, had been out of the country at the time.

So this guy only deals with people at a certain level does he? Who the hell does he think he is?

Now is the time to pull our troops out and leave him to it.

[4GS]

An ungrateful barsteward that's who.
Perhaps he'd like to deal with the families of our soldiers killed overthrowing Saddam so that he could govern the fly ridden, stinking pit of putrid sand he calls a country, or are they beneath him too?

[Gromit]

He is not being ungrateful, he just has more important things to do than meet lowlly military minion. If the Dence Secretary were to go, the I am sure he would be warmly greted. As the head of state of Iraq he wants to meet the political decision makers. Contact between military leaders will be left to someone lower down in his command.
bush or Brown would never personally meet military staff from another country.

I agree with you to withdraw. Our mission has failed and our presence is adding to the problems facing Iraq.

[jno]

I imagine he doesn't want to leave the impression that he's going to the leader of an occupying army for instructions. As Gromit says, a British political leader will meet US political leaders but is less likely to meet American generals. (I hope.)

[Kromovaracun]

A Brigadier is hardly a 'lowly minion'...

It is quite shocking that Maliki didn't tell the coalition he was planning such an attack. It's true that he has the right to do so as PM, but good sense does kind of suggest it would've been smarter to involve them more than he did.

On the withdrawal thing:

The UK could make a genuinely positive impact on Iraq if we bothered to stay and contribute to the training of Iraqi security forces (which we have an obligation to do since we were implicit in dismantling them and bringing about the present situation). The recent British strategy, however, seems to be to declare victory then retreat... (and note that since our withdrawal from Basra, our casualties have actually increased)

[4GS]

a British political leader will meet US political leaders but is less likely to meet American generals.

When did the American Generals rescue Brown from a tyrant?

[jno]

He wasn't exactly rescued, 4GS, he lived in Syria until after Saddam's overthrow. But this is still fundamentally political. He has to be seen as independent of all foreign interests, particularly the USA and Iran. This means he has to meet Americans as equals - and that means senior politicans, not military men.

[anotheoldgit]

Brigadier Free flew to Basra city with Lieutenant-General Lloyd Austin, the commander of American and coalition forces in Iraq, on March 27, two days after the operation began. The Iraqi Prime Minister spoke only to the US general

You are wrong Gromit, It would seem he will only speak to the American military

[anotheoldgit]

Forgot to mention Gromit, you have not replied yet to my posting in AB's question.

[Gromit]

AOG

I did not reply to your rant because there was nothing of any substance to reply to. If AB posts about a news story, especially an obscure one, it is courteous and sensible to supply a link to the story. After all, the whole purpose is to illicit replies. I am perfectly entitled to complain about ABs lack of professionalism. Even AOG sees the usefulness of supplying a link (you have above).
I ntice oneeyedvic has replied in my defence, and I agree with him. Maybe if you had wanted a reply, you should have asked a question.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

Another long-winded reply with totally no substance that we have come to expect from you and the rest of your crew when you have backed yourself's in a corner.

Knowing your superior than thou attitude, that you try to show to us mere mortals, I automatically assumed that you were trying to offer yourself up for the post of AB's editorial adviser.

The link I kindly supplied was not the best one. It conveniently left out the information that previous investigations had found fraudulent applications.

The link "I KINDLY SUPPLIED" (see what I mean about your superior than thou attitude?)

You hypocritically used the Daily Mail facillties for your link and then when found out, you made a hasty U-turn and stated "it was not the best one". ( Mr Brown would have been so proud of you) Well then clever clogs why didn't you use a better one?

Call it racist if you must I don't care, it doesn't frighten me, it is only a word. But what does frighten me along with about 80% of the indigenous population, is the fact that English is not the primary language spoken by the pupils in many of our schools.

Perhaps Gromit if you are not satisfied with the way that AB is run, you should consider resigning from the site, along with your lap-dogs.

[fagidill]

I think we did our ;bit; when we wiped out Saddam. in my opinion that's when we should have left Iraq. UK is in the RED due to the expense of all this war shi te.

[Kromovaracun]

We were also implicit in the Coalition's disbanding of the Iraqi army, police and security forces. And in the de-Baathization. So we've got an obligation to build them back up again.