Keeping our troops in Iraq

[rov1200]

Why is our government so desparate to keep our troops in Iraq after being told we are no longer welcome there?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7 794646.stm

[anotheoldgit]

You and the Tory leadership seem to have conveniently forgotten the results of the vote for war with Iraq in 2003.

Gromit, Get your head round this, because I am getting rather tired of you putting words into my mouth.

Did I at any time say what party these alleged criminals belonged to? NO!!!!

Did I say at any time that I had conveniently forgotton the results of the votes for war? NO!!!!!

My statement remains the same, regardless of who they are, or whatever party they belong to, they should still stand accountable for their actions.

[R1Geezer]

I think Gromit that AOG, like others keep clinging to this rather twee idea that the war was some how illegal. I don't think for a minute that those who allowed it go ahead by action or even innaction where doing anything illegal, indeed I thought they where probably right at the time. As I have said above with hindsight I think the whole thing was an error. Nasty bast4rd as he was I think SH did actually perform a function. I'm not sorry he's brown bread I'm just, like others, looking for a way to get our troops home. I really don't give a thupney about the original thinking/rights and wrongs.

[rov1200]

Whether we like it or not if our troops remain beyond 31 Dec 08 they will be there illegally. That is the date of the UN mandate when the coalition went into Iraq. The Iraqi parliament who has the authority to extend the date into the new year does not meet until 7th Jan 09 and even then may refuse our prescence. I wonder if we can pack our bags and transfer our equipment during the next 9 days as a contingency?

Interestingly South Korea and Japan who also had coalition troops in Iraq have kept to this end date and have moved out. Why do we have to be awkward?

[rov1200]

Panic over! Saved someones blushes. The Iraqi parliament has today sanctioned British troops to remain until July next year as originally planned.

[MWB]

anotheoldgit & sqad617,

Hear Hear!

It's basically the extremists who are wanting all troops out of Iraq. The common Iraqi are probably quite happy to keep some troops there for the meantime. Normal life can go on: education, socialising, womans rights, etc. They, I'm sure, wish it didn't have to be so.

What would happen if some despot "somehow" took over the UK & did what Saddam did & Pol Pot & Idi Amin et al & what Mugabe is doing in Zimbabwe? Would they want help or should they be left alone as they waged wars all the time? They were always fighting with France, Spain, Scotland & even had civil wars. Na, leave them to it, they like killing others & each other! Bl@@y anglo saxons!

Oh, by the way. Perhaps you'd better not have to be admitted to hospital as an there might an Islamic doctor who might treat you! Or not, cause they just want to kill all dissidents. And hope your computer doesn't need fixing, the IT might be Iraqui! And better not eat that cauliflower, an Iraqui grew it. They're just backward savages!

It is an extraodinarily complex situation.