IRAQ: In Basra, what are British doing right? (no casualties lately)

The Iraqi Resistance seems to be very quiet in Basra. They haven't been harassing the British forces like they do the US. I wonder why? Any ideas?

The media doesn't seem to notice this anomaly.

at occupying foreign countries and making allowances for local sensibilities.
The US military has never been trained for occupation. It's a fighting force. The fact that US soldiers cannot understand that citizens hate them no matter what the reason they are in their land for is a perfect example. Most of them have never been out of the States and have little understanding of foreign culture. And the men that send them should know this so it's on their head when one is killed.

The Shiites in Basra aren't particularly fond of occupation, even if it's a British occupation, but they're less fond of their Sunni rivals in and around Baghdad. I think they're content to lay low and let the Sunnis and the Americans go at it for awhile. They'll make their move eventually, most likely if and when the US finds and eliminates Saddam.

He may have talked about it on that show he was on, on c-span.What I recall is that the Brits are masters at moving in and ruling. They have done it for 100's of years.You must recall through history they have taken over many countries with few of their army being used or killed. The increase in their men being killed is maybe one of the reasons their Empire went.One does not know if it was cause or just the times.All empire have this problem, how do you let yout own people get killed and still produce men to be killed? You do not stay happy to see your children killed in some land far way for a tin mine, or a fast food chain or an oil field.The big wig may get rich but you bring flowers to the grave yard, if the body can even be found.:think: I will try to recall where I heard or read that.

The area that us Brits control is far more stable than the Baghdad/Tikrit/Falluja area that the yanks are in so it's proportionally more difficult for the US forces to take control.

I would also suggest that the British forces have far more respect for the Iraqi population than their US counterparts. We tend to patrol with berets instead of helmets and light body armour instead of full. A lot of our lads were given a basic understanding of Arabic before they left and have tried very hard to understand and respect the difference in cultures.

If that's true, it won't be for long. The Shiites' patience is growing thin.

I imagine that if the Americans were doing that, we would have far more fatalities by now.

They swapped back to helmets after a few incidents about 3 months ago, but since then most have been wearing berets.

Helmets in 110 degree weather are hot!!! Even berets are warm. I prefer just sunscreen myself (and a swimming pool).

I feel so sorry for those soldiers-------> Bring them home now!!!

When I lived in Saudie the Brits that acted like Americans were gone soon. I figured their country made them go home, where as many Am. were just plain rude to the people that had let them into their country, and were left at their jobs. I am not sure why those Am. Acted like that as the people were very nice and it all was interesting. My husband was well liked and asked to the countries peoples homes all the time. I just loved going. Other Am asked if we could get them to these paoples homes but frankly they were not wanted and we always went alone.

They're not Americans?

Okay, probably a minor point. I think the fact that they are in a predominately Shiite area may have something to do with it.

Shiites in the South where the Brits are, Sunnis in the north.

I posted it in LBN. I am sure the link is in there somewhere....

And the problem in the American controlled part of Iraq IS NOT the religious makeup.

People from Kashmir, Afrghanistan, and the rest of the world are moving to Iraq specifically to fight with the US because the US is in an imperial force. If the US were in Basra, they'd be going after them there too.

I know everybody hates Blair here, but how much more evidence do you need? The UK is not turning over Basra to BP. Cairn energy -- Bush's good friends -- are not allowed in Iraq (so they're ruining Nepal instead).

Blair is doing the right thing. They've created a safe haven in Iraq.

I guarantee you, when that country goes democratic, all the people and planning will come out of Basra and not Baghdad, and they're going to hate America, and they're going to start a democratic government which will feel deeply loyal to the EU for a century. And 100 years from now people are going to say it was Tony Blair who was responsible for that.