| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Tom Jefferson" |
| Date: |
13 Oct 2003 08:29:27 PM |
| Object: |
"my fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended." |
IRAQ: IT'S FAR WORSE NOW
JAMES GARNETT DEFENCE REPORTER
12:00 - 11 October 2003
Crack Plymouth Royal Marine boat teams on patrol in Iraq today said the
country was more dangerous now than at any point in the war. Six months
after the conflict officially ended, specialist commandos from 539 Assault
Squadron Royal Marines (ASRM) have told the Herald they are being regularly
shot at while patrolling the Shatt Al Arab waterway near Basra.
Only a few days ago their headquarters - one of Saddam's Basra riverside
palace compounds - was mortar-bombed by fighters loyal to the deposed
regime.
And the danger is set to increase as they enter a new and more aggressive
phase of patrolling, during which they will stop and arrest oil and weapons
smugglers pouring into southern Iraq.
Plymouth Corporal Andy Middleton, who took part in 539 ASRM's daring assault
on Iraq earlier this year and now commands the squadron's Boarding Troop
Raiding Section, said: "I wasn't expecting to be back. There are rounds
going off on the river all the time.
"It's more dangerous now than it was during the war. It's more directed at
us now."
Twelve commandos from Turnchapel-based 539 ASRM, operating six high-speed
Rigid Raider patrol craft, left Plymouth early last month.
It followed a formal request from the Army's 19 Mechanised Brigade,
stationed in Basra, and came only four months after the squadron made a
heroic return from the Iraq war.
The patrols are designed to act as a deterrent to smugglers using the
crucial waterway, whose main channel and many smaller arteries run from
Basra down into the Persian Gulf.
They are also meant as a warning to would-be terrorists using the river,
part of which forms the border with Iran, against crossing over into Iraq
and executing suicide missions.
Since its arrival in Iraq, the team from 539 ASRM has been patrolling a
24-km stretch of water for up to nine hours a day, gathering and relaying
information on vessels using the river, ranging from small fishing vessels
and barges to 120-metre tankers.
Tensions are already high and now the Plymouth commandos, who have yet to
return any fire, expect them to rise further as they begin risky board,
search and arrest operations.
Cpl Middleton said: "It could get a lot more dangerous if they try and stop
us arresting them.
"A lot of the ships out here have got security guards. They have fired
warning shots at us."
Capt Matt Parker, Liaison Officer for 19 Mech Bde and the Boarding Troop,
said their headquarters by the river were under 'constant threat'.
He said: "Last night the palace compound was mortared. It is by no means a
benign environment.
"We're not in the war-fighting phase any more, but there is still activity
from the former regime loyalists.
"They're still regularly shooting at us and using vehicle incendiary
devices.
"It's quite a harsh environment. The lads have to keep on their toes," he
said.
Although part of 539 ASRM's mission is to watch activity on the border with
Iran, it is devoting most of its time to smuggling, which is commonplace in
the oil-rich Gulf and bankrolls terrorist operations.
Before the war began in March, scores of fishing vessels and tankers fled
southern Iraq into the Persian Gulf to escape the hostilities. Now they are
returning, and all must be checked as they move up and down the country.
539 ASRM, who are specialists in high-speed commando boat operations, played
a vital role in the war in March and April.
When they left Iraq and returned to Plymouth in May, British forces were
left with only limited boat capability and there was a 'lull' in river
patrols, said Capt Parker.
Now, amid mounting concern about post-war security, the specialist commandos
have been recalled, along with marines from the Fleet Protection and Fleet
Standby Rifle Troops.
Smuggling is a key battleground and underpins many major terrorist
operations. Oil, weapons, ammunition and terrorists themselves could be on
board.
Many of the vessels used have 'ingenious' designs, said Cpl Middleton.
"Some vessels look like fishing boats but the whole thing has been converted
into an oil container and it's absolutely full-up. The only space left is
the engine room," he said.
Capt Parker added: "Smuggling has been happening for the past 10 to 15
years, so it's endemic.
"A lot of the guys do not expect to be caught. Our battle is uphill to
educate them that it is illegal.
"It's been quite a slow build-up because of the amount of logistical support
required for us to seize barges. It's difficult to transport barges
downriver and offload them - it's quite a lengthy procedure."
Following legal wrangles about board and search operations, 539 ASRM are now
'building up' to more fast-rope operations, where they descend on suspect
vessels by boat and helicopter.
But the men say they are ready to face the risks.
Cpl Middleton said: "It's been a little bit frustrating that we haven't
moved into the next phase. We've been held back.
"We're now moving into arresting and stopping people. We have been waiting
for the legal side of things to sort themselves out before we can do that.
From now on, it should start picking up a lot. We're looking forward to
that."
Capt Parker said 539 ASRM's raiding troop expected to be in Iraq until
December, when its role would be reviewed. The troop also aimed to train up
Iraqis to carry out river patrols after they left.
Until then, the Turnchapel commandos will be on their guard and ready to
spring into action from their palatial barracks.
Cpl Middleton said: "It's quite plush, really. The ceilings are decorated
and there are marble floors. It's just a shame the plumbing and electrics
aren't up and running."
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=99746&command=display
Content&sourceNode=98877&contentPK=7355624
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| User: "David Raleigh Arnold" |
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| Title: Re: "my fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended." |
14 Oct 2003 07:45:08 AM |
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On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 19:29:27 -0600, Tom Jefferson wrote:
IRAQ: IT'S FAR WORSE NOW
JAMES GARNETT DEFENCE REPORTER
12:00 - 11 October 2003
Crack Plymouth Royal Marine boat teams on patrol in Iraq today said the
country was more dangerous now than at any point in the war. Six months
after the conflict officially ended, specialist commandos from 539 Assault
Squadron Royal Marines (ASRM) have told the Herald they are being regularly
shot at while patrolling the Shatt Al Arab waterway near Basra.
Only a few days ago their headquarters - one of Saddam's Basra riverside
palace compounds - was mortar-bombed by fighters loyal to the deposed
regime.
Of course that is lying propaganda. There is no reason whatever to
describe Iraqi patriots as loyal to Saddam. I won't read one more
sentence of that crap. James Garnett is the jerk who wrote it.
These fighters are the few who hate us because we are there, and the many
who are induced directly or indirectly by Saudi money, the guiding star of
"fundamentalist" Islam.
We invaded the wrong country. The enemy is elsewhere. There is nothing
that Bush, or Annan, or all their horses and all their men can do to make
it the right country, not even if we stay there forever.
Therefore, the sole mission of our troops in Iraq is to be killed. I hope
that they can find ways to ignore their mission and just stay alive. The
priority of Bush is to shift the blame, not to cut our losses. daveA
--
Br`er Fox told Br`er Rabbit that the Tar Baby had dissed him, and Fox made a
dummy out of tar and put him in Rabbit's path. When the Tar Baby failed to
return a civil greeting, Rabbit punched him with a right, a left, both feet and
butted him with his forehead. Along came Br`er Fox who saw that he was
thoroughly "stuck up". Br`er Fox is much smarter than Br`er Rabbit, and in
spite of all Rabbit's pleas for help, no one is going to unstick him and throw
him in the briar patch, so now Br`er Fox is liesurely eating Rabbit's liver.
D. Raleigh Arnold dra@ http://www.openguitar.com
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