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rok_the-boat
Joined: 24 Jan 2004
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 Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 5:28 pm Post subject: British undercover in Iraq - going sour |
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What the fcuk is going on here?
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/09/19/iraq.main/index.html
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BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A British armored vehicle escorted by a tank crashed into a detention center Monday in Basra and rescued two undercover troops held by police, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official told CNN.
British Defense Ministry Secretary John Reid confirmed two British military personnel were "released," but he gave no details on how they were freed.
In a statement released in London, Reid did not say why the two had been taken into custody. But the Iraqi official, who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity, said their arrests stemmed from an incident earlier in the day.
The official said two unknown gunmen in full Arabic dress began firing on civilians in central Basra, wounding several, including a traffic police officer. There were no fatalities, the official said.
The two gunmen fled the scene but were captured and taken in for questioning, admitting they were British marines carrying out a "special security task," the official said.
British troops launched the rescue about three hours after Iraqi authorities informed British commanders the men were being held at the police department's major crime unit, the official said.
Iraqi police said members of Iraq's Mehdi Army militia engaged the British forces around the facility, burning one personnel carrier and an armored vehicle.
Video showed dozens of Iraqis surrounding British armored vehicles and tossing gasoline bombs, rocks and other debris at them.
With one vehicle engulfed in flames, a soldier opened the hatch and bailed out as rocks were thrown at him. Another photograph showed a British soldier on fire on top of a tank.
etc. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, that's some pretty wacky stuff.
According to MSNBC:
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Aquil Jabbar, an Iraqi television cameraman who lives across the street from the Basra jail, said about 150 Iraqi prisoners fled as British commandos stormed inside and rescued their comrades.
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So, the only way the British can get the Iraqi government(their supposed ally) to release British prisoners from jail is by destroying the jail and letting 150 other prisoners run free? |
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rok_the-boat
Joined: 24 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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On the BBC site they referred to it as, wait for it, a 'negotiated' release  |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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The official said two unknown gunmen in full Arabic dress began firing on civilians in central Basra, wounding several, including a traffic police officer. There were no fatalities, the official said.
The two gunmen fled the scene but were captured and taken in for questioning, admitting they were British marines carrying out a "special security task," the official said.
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Jesus, who's running "special security" for the British army? igotthisguitar? |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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truth is stranger than fiction. |
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supernick
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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Wouldn't this be a breach of international law? From the arcticle, it said that two British military personel were not wearing uniforms and fired guns a civilians.
I guess some would say that the British and Americans only breach international law some of the time, but the insurgents are in breach all the time.
Anyway, I would sure like to read more about these latest events. It sure looks like things won't improve any time soon. |
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rok_the-boat
Joined: 24 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:04 am Post subject: |
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| supernick wrote: |
Wouldn't this be a breach of international law? From the arcticle, it said that two British military personel were not wearing uniforms and fired guns a civilians.
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Shooting people is against any law. Not being in uniform in a combat zone is basically being a spy, and spies can be shot, but under who's law? The terrorists do not have a state and have no authority under law. But they do have power, and those with power can and do do anything they like. At best, they would fall under Iraqi police authority, who presently, in real terms, fall under the occuaption forces.
Anyway, looks like the BBC has just changed its story - now they were not freed from police custody but from 'militia'.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4262336.stm
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UK soldiers 'freed from militia'
Two British soldiers whose imprisonment prompted UK troops to storm a Basra police station were later rescued from militia, the Ministry of Defence says.
Brigadier John Lorimer said it was of "deep concern" the men detained by police ended up held by Shia militia.
Basra governor Mohammed al-Waili said the men - possibly working undercover - were arrested for allegedly shooting dead a policeman and wounding another.
The arrests sparked unrest in which Army vehicles were attacked.
In a statement, Brig Lorimer said that under Iraqi law the soldiers should have been handed over to coalition authorities, but this failed to happen despite repeated requests.
"I had good reason to believe that the lives of the soldiers were at risk and troops were sent to the area of Basra near the police station to help ensure their safety by providing a cordon," Brig Lorimer said.
"As shown on television these troops were attacked with firebombs and rockets by a violent and determined crowd.
"Later in the day, however, I became more concerned about the safety of the two soldiers after we received information that they had been handed over to militia elements."
After troops broke into the police station to confirm the men were not there, they staged a rescue from a house in Basra, said the commanding officer of 12 Mechanised Brigade in Basra.
"I'm delighted that the two British soldiers are back with British forces and are in good health," Brig Lorimer said.
But he added: "It is of deep concern that British soldiers held by the police should then end up being held by the militia. This is unacceptable."
BBC Defence Correspondent Paul Wood said local police revealed the whereabouts of the two men after the station was stormed.
"At the point of a 30mm cannon - no shots were fired - but at the point of this cannon, the Iraqi police gave away the location of where the two British soldiers had been taken," he said. |
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rok_the-boat
Joined: 24 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:04 am Post subject: |
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I think this event looked rather suspicious in the beginning due to dodgy reporting. All in all, I now think it looks good for the British soldiers - they rescued their boys who the Iraqi police had handed over to the militia. However, one wonders what they were doing to get arrested in the first place ... But even if guilty of some crime, they should not have been handed over to the militia.
Last edited by rok_the-boat on Tue Sep 20, 2005 2:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Summer Wine
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Location: Next to a River
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:40 am Post subject: |
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I guess some would say that the British and Americans only breach international law some of the time, but the insurgents are in breach all the time.
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Ok. First! I will make a statement. Should they have done so, yes they should have.
They were after Shiite terrorists, it was obvious by the wording. They got caught doing it and they might have died. The British commander stepped in and this is this result, Prove me wrong, I am waiting and will accept it.
Yours truly,
The Lost |
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supernick
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 7:45 am Post subject: |
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Ok. First! I will make a statement. Should they have done so, yes they should have.
They we | | | |
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