US, British experience different realities in Iraq
While US troops battle insurgents, Brits 'enjoy tranquil life.'
As the new year begins in Iraq, the lives of US and British soldiers in Iraq provide a stark contrast to each other, as well a glimpse into the way the country is
divided by ethnic and tribal lines. While
215 US soldiers have been killed in action since President Bush declared major combat over May 1, only 11 British soldiers have died as
the result of hostile action, the last one in late August.
For US troops (many of whom serve in the dangerous Sunni triangle north of Baghdad),
The New York Times reports, often one just has to "
stick it out." The soldiers are enormously proud of the job they have done in Iraq, and believe they will win the overall battle in the long run, the
Times says. But morale depends on the casualty total, which has
climbed again after the capture of Saddam Hussein. US military leaders also realize Iraqis are judging them on a day-by-day basis.
"The continuing welcome is dependent on making progress every single day, in terms of basic services, in terms of improving electricity flow, in terms of solving the fuel crisis, in terms of very basic needs ��� ration cards, schools, student-to-teacher ratio, roads, potholes, wells and then repair of basic infrastructure," said Maj.-Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the 101st Airborne Division in Mosul. "We're competing in a sense with this man-in-the-moon metaphor, which is, `You Americans can put a man on the moon, why can't you give me a job with a salary right now? Why can't you snap your fingers and produce 24-hour power?'"
US casualties are not just happening in combat situations.
The Los Angeles Times reports on the number of US troops killed or injured in accidents. The
Times highlights the case of an Army corporal who had been
driving for 15 hours straight, in a Humvee where the radio, speedometer and seat belts were not functioning, and one low-beam headlight was broken. He died when his vehicle crashed into an Amry tractor-trailer that had been abandoned at the side of the road. The
Times reports the death rate for active-duty personnel in accidents rose last year to the highest level in eight years – 35.63 per 100,000 individuals.
The Baltimore Sun reports that non-military medical experts are alarmed at the
relatively high rate of suicides among active personnel in Iraq. Since major combat ended May 1, 18 soldiers and 2 Marines have killed themselves, which is a rate close to double the regular rate in the military.
There are also tensions between US troops and local Sunni officials.
Reuters reports that the police chief investigating the deaths of an Iraqi family gunned down in their car in northern Iraq over the weekend said on Monday he was convinced
US troops were responsible, although the army has denied involvement. A 5th passenger who survived the attack and local residents said US troops shot up the car when it tried to pass a troop convoy. A woman and a nine-year old boy were among the dead. The incident has greatly ratched up emotions agains the US in the area,
Reuters quotes one US commander as saying.
The Associated Press reports on
how ill-prepared the Iraqi Civil Defense Force is for the task of replacing US soldiers in Iraq as keepers of the peace. "Oh my God, it will be a while," said US Staff Sergeant Hugo Olveraleija, one of the corps' trainers. "These guys are farmers," he said.
The Age of Australia, however, reports that the US is ready to help
launch a secret police force to track down insurgents.
The Age also reports that the US formally starts the handover of power to Iraq this week with the final plan still not fully in place.
Inspite of all the problems,
Army Times reports military personnel continue to strongly back the President Bush's goals in Iraq. A poll conducted for the magazine also found that a majority of military people considered themselves "very conservative" and believed they had "
higher moral standards than the rest of the nation."
But it's a much difference story in the south of Iraq. British troops are stationed in an area with
a more friendly Shiite majority. British troops have also taken a more "hands off" approach to the local population, the
San Francisco Chronicle reports. Despite some pockets of violence, the
Guardian reports, British soldiers are having a "
tranquil life."
"Down here is very different from up there [Baghdad]," Major Charles Mayo, the British military's spokesman pointed out, speaking at the army's other main base in Basra's international airport. "We have the support of the local population." He added: "I think that is because we talk to them. The soldiers are learning a bit of Arabic. They learn how to say things like: 'Please get out of your car.' They try to be polite."
The Reading Chronicle of Britain reports, however, that the UK has paid out more than $10,000 US in compensation to Iraqi civilians
injured by UK forces occupying the country. Meanwhile, three further undisclosed compensation payments have been made to Iraqis in relation to deaths involving British forces. Investigations are under way into the circumstances surrounding another 13 deaths allegedly caused by UK troops.
One of those deaths involves a young Iraqi man
allegedly kicked to death by British troops in Basra.
The Independent on Sunday reports that according to military and medical records, he was among eight Iraqis arrested, kicked and assaulted by British troops. The man's family refused the $8,000 US offered in compensation by the British military, and plan to take the British Ministry of Defense to court. Amnesty International has also demanded an investigation into the beatings.
British troops were bouyed over the weekend by a "surprise visit" by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to Iraq, who told them they were
pioneering a new kind of soldiering.
Middle East Online points out that during his six-hour visit, he only
met with one Iraqi, the governor of Basra, Wael Adullatif. Blair also said the next six months in Iraq will be crucial. "We have got to get on top of the security situation properly and we have got to manage the transition. Both of those things are going to be difficult."
On Monday,
AP reports that British Foreign Minister Jack Straw announced that, even with more favorable conditions in the south of Iraq, British troops would remain until
at least 2006 or 2007. Some 45,000 British troops were part of the original US-led invasion force, but numbers have been steadily reduced. Around 10,000 Britons are now serving in the country.
Also...
•
Gaddafi son says no US, UK bases in Libya-paper (
Reuters)
•
Will Saddam Hussein crack? (
Time)
•
John LeCarre – The spy in winter (
Time)
•
Shapiray's burqa says it all for Afghan women and notions of freedom (
Los Angeles Times)
•
Engineer crews clearing out roads to eliminate possible spots to stash IEDs (
Stars and Stripes)
•
Al-Qaeda plots new air attacks (
The Age)
•
British pilots see BA flight holdups as "warning shot" by US (
Agence-France Presse)
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Tom Regan
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