The British are not coming!!

[DocGarza]

So as most of us watch the news, what are some of your views about the Brits pulluing out of Iraq totally by the end of this year?

[hm1park]

It's a sign of the times. Their people lack resolve, their politicians lack resolve, and they are a free country to make their own decisions. I don't think it's the right move. Nice to see the Aussies stepping up some. It's pretty easy though when you know one country is going to do the lionshare of the work regardless. It would be an interesting experiment to see what happens if we pulled out of every country we are "occupying" and watch the fallout. Or who knows, maybe the world would be a better place with Islamic extremism ideology. Hmmm.. Doubtful!

[GruntCorpsman]

It was my understanding that the British were not fully pulling out of Iraq, but were rather pulling all of their support services units out, with the infantry remaining. I may be wrong, but that was what I got out of a follow up story.

[Da-Chief]

Dec 7 1941.. Lets all be seperatists...Let's let the attacks come to us.. Lets not get involved..

When I was serving I&I duty in the Bay Area, CA (oakland, Alameda, Bezerkley, SF ) I could see this starting to happen, people forgetting thinking it is someone elese problem. I even have to fall into this way of thinking..

We foget on 9/11 Someone brought it to "OUR" doorstep.

I think the enemy sometimes relies on our freedoms and lack of forsight in the US way of life.

Don't know if this is good, or bad..

HMC

[old navy]

The tree of freedom is nourished by the blood of patriots. I think Thomas Jefferson said that. One of this country's great blessings is patriots with the stones to respond when their country calls. Whether liberating France, England, Granada, or the original 13 colonies, Americans have responded. It makes me proud to be one.

[Poolzer]

I know the brits have started pulling their MEDEVAC units out of southern Iraq, our Navy Air Ambulance team is getting more Southern Iraq missions because of it.

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

So while everyone has apparently taken note that the Brit's are reducing their presence in Iraq, is anyone going to give them credit for increasing their presence in Afghanistan?

[] British anti-war public opinion forces UK withdrawal from Iraq
[] Insurgents defeat Brit's and forces UK withdrawal from Iraq
[] Southern Iraq is secure so the UK may withdrawal from Iraq

Take whatever spin you like, but the Tommy's are basically pulling about 1,600 from Iraq in the coming months and adding 800 to Afghanistan in the coming weeks. UK Iraq numbers may be dropping towards 5,000 but UK Afghanistan numbers are set to increase to 6,000. Meanwhile the politicians in DC are voting whether to pull Americans out of Iraq so where does that put us and our national resolve.

Remember too that the Brit military is pretty tiny compared to ours now that their empire is gone. During a prewar air brief I attended, a Marine colonel was essentially apologizing for the limited US aircraft that would be available. The UK commander started chuckling and shook his head, along with snickers from a few other Brits. None of the Americans understood the laughter and after a few awkward moments the colonel asked about it, to which the Brit's replied, That's more than our entire Air Force...

[old navy]

"So while everyone has apparently taken note that the Brit's are reducing their presence in Iraq"

My response didn't refer to GB's operational decisions at all. I just felt a patriotic urge and decided that this thread was a good place to express it.

[ThomasPII]

The tree of freedom is nourished by the blood of patriots. I think Thomas Jefferson said that. One of this country's great blessings is patriots with the stones to respond when their country calls. Whether liberating France, England, Granada, or the original 13 colonies, Americans have responded. It makes me proud to be one.


"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" ~Thomas Jefferson

[tngnome]

The British are pulling out of Iraq.... OK! I am glad to be an AMERICAN. America has not got this far by quitting. It does not pay to be a quitter, it pays to be a winner! Britain is doing what they feel is best for there country. I just hope that when we do win this war, that they will not write in there history books that they played a part in stabilizing the region and ultimately winning the war! The only part they are playing is showing the bad guys that "Hey we just have to keep sticking it to them and they will implode on themselves and pull out!" I don't know what is worse, a time table to pull out or all our "ALLIES" leaving us with the bill at the end of an expensive dinner at the most expensive restaurant in town! Fortune favors the brave! Any ways where would we be today the fathers of our nation just decided to pull out of the Revolutionary War? Then I guess we would be pulling out of Iraq ourselves under the British flag. These colors don't run.... unless it is prim rib day at the chow hall! In the end it is all politics and public opinion that drives certain nations; even our own. We just need to end all this quitting talk and just get the job DONE!!! The quicker we finish the job the quicker we get to go home; that’s how it was in WW2 and we should learn something from that!

[old navy]

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" ~Thomas Jefferson

I was paraphrasing from memory but thanks.