UK special forces soldiers rescued in Basra

[Bobbycop]

STATEMENT GIVEN BY BRIGADE COMMANDER 12 MECHANIZED BRIGADE

[Bobbycop]

Iraq probe into soldier incident
The Iraqi government has launched an inquiry into the events that led the British Army to stage a dramatic rescue of two UK soldiers detained by police.
Both men were members of the SAS elite special forces, sources told the BBC's Richard Galpin in Baghdad.

The soldiers were arrested by police and then handed over to a militia group, the British Army says.

Iraq's interior ministry ordered the police force in Basra to release the soldiers but that order was ignored.

Defence Secretary John Reid told reporters that a delegation of six British military personnel, including a legal officer, had been sent to the police station to ease the release of the men.

Mr Reid said surveillance had established the men were being moved to another location, while at the same time an angry crowd posed an obstacle to the departure of the six-strong team.


The British commander on the ground, Brigadier John Lorimer, ordered British forces to move into the police station to help the team.

Almost simultaneously, a separate operation was staged to rescue the men from the place where they had been moved to.

It is understood force was also used in this operation, although there were no casualties as the Shia militia holding the British soldiers fled.

The episode saw a wall flattened at the police station by a British armoured personnel carrier, but Mr Reid said the coalition was still going "in the right direction" in terms of its overall strategy in Iraq and said this incident was merely "local".

Basra governor Mohammed al-Waili said the men - possibly working undercover - were arrested for allegedly shooting dead a policeman and wounding another.


Richard Galpin said al-Jazeera news channel footage, purportedly of the equipment carried in the men's car, showed assault rifles, a light machine gun, an anti-tank weapon, radio gear and medical kit.

This is thought to be standard kit for the SAS operating in such a theatre of operations, he said.

The arrests sparked angry protests from locals in which British vehicles were attacked and set on fire.

Haydar al-Abadi, a spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, said the British rescue had been "a very unfortunate development".

"My understanding is that, first, it happened very quickly. Second, there is lack of discipline in the whole area regarding this matter...


We remain committed to helping the Iraqi government for as long as they judge that a coalition presence is necessary
Defence Secretary John Reid


"It is a very unfortunate development that the British forces should try to release their soldiers the way it happened, it's very unfortunate."

Soon afterwards, the Iraqi prime minister's office released a statement insisting there was no crisis in relations with the British.

"In response to recent events in Basra, the Iraqi government wants to clarify that there is no 'crisis' - as some media have claimed - between it and the British government.

"Both governments are in close contact, and an inquiry will be conducted by the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior into the incident.

"We will await the outcome of that inquiry. In the meantime we urge all sides to remain calm."

[djack16]

Thank goodness they were still in one piece.

[AnGardaSiochana]

Double standards

Thank goodness they were still in one piece.

Perhaps we should be more concerned with the fact they shot dead a police officer?

If a British soldier shot an American cop would you still have the same opinion?

[Bobbycop]

Perhaps we should be more concerned with the fact they shot dead a police officer?

If a British soldier shot an American cop would you still have the same opinion?

If a British soldier shot an American cop , I would expect the American Police to detain them lawfully and let the judicial system take care of everything.

As it happened the British soldiers were on lawful duty in a war-zone situation, where neither you or I were present.

The soldiers were then detained unlawfully, beaten and subjected to a humiliating display on camera at the hands of the Iraqi authorities.
And then to top of it off, they were passed over to militia, yes the same militia responsible for torture and internet beheadings.

Thank god for the excellent operational work and bravery of the soldiers involved who were able to execute a successful rescue mission.

As far as I am concerned this one of the most amazing stories of the war and I believe that the British army should be applauded for their actions.

I have no doubt that had the soldiers concerned acted unlawfully, in any way, they would be dealt with appropriately and fairly.

[AnGardaSiochana]

Bs

If a British soldier shot an American cop , I would expect the American Police to detain them lawfully and let the judicial system take care of everything.

As it happened the British soldiers were on lawful duty in a war-zone situation, where neither you or I were present.

The soldiers were then detained unlawfully, beaten and subjected to a humiliating display on camera at the hands of the Iraqi authorities.
And then to top of it off, they were passed over to militia, yes the same militia responsible for torture and internet beheadings.

Thank god for the excellent operational work and bravery of the soldiers involved who were able to execute a successful rescue mission.

As far as I am concerned this one of the most amazing stories of the war and I believe that the British army should be applauded for their actions.

I have no doubt that had the soldiers concerned acted unlawfully, in any way, they would be dealt with appropriately and fairly.

Complete Bull**** and you know it. they were operating for or with FRU in an attempt to gain public support by carrying out their own illegal acts and then blame insurgents.

The whole war is Illegal so their actions cannot be lawfull and shooting a cop PRIOR to being arrested (which means they killed him before being arrested, detained and injured in anyway) is illegal.

Its not a warzone when the government in control has allowed the force to remain. The Iraqi government and military that existed when the invasion took place has been removed and the puppet government put in. The allied forces are supposed to be working WITH the Iraqi police and military. The Allied forces are an occupying force now.

Wheres the WMD's? Whats the real reason for this war? You could have had Saddam many times over the past 15 years.

[Bobbycop]

You've every right to your opinion and to question the reasons for going to war. A great number of people who initially supported the war feel that the were misguided by the WMD issue.

I personally believe that plans should now be in place to withdraw. Particular now that suicide bombers are operating over here. We had enough of innocent people being killed by Irish terrorists for the last few decades.

I do have to take issue with a number of your points though. Your opening comment 'Bulls*** and you know it' implies that I am lying to cover up for someone committing illegal acts. Presumably because they're British. How wrong you are. Don't you realise that I spend all day locking Brits up and putting them away for breaking the law? If the soldiers have committed crimes, i.e Murder, then I am the first to say that they should be brought to justice.

Whatever your opinion on the war, as a Police Officer I would like to think that you support the fair treatment of prisoners. Unfortunately It is a sad truth that the Iraqi Police has been infiltrated by terrorists and the soldiers should never have been handed over to the Militia. What do you think would have happened to them if they hadn't been rescued?

You might well be correct on the text-book definition of 'war zone' but there is no arguing that the soldiers were on active duty. I am also 100% confident that their role was not to commit crimes to then blame on the insurgents.As I said , neither you or I were there so we don't know the full account.
It could be possible that they returned fire in self defence, it could be possible that the Iraqi Police Officer was caught in crossfire, it could be possible that they didn't do it or it could also be possible that they 'murdered' him.

If there is any evidence that an illegal killing has taken place then the suspects should be dealt with accordingly. But by fair means not militia / terrorists.