British soldiers stand on guard before the handover ceremony in Iraq's southern province of Basra, Dec. 16, 2007. British troops transferred responsibility for security in Basra to Iraqi forces on Sunday. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)More than two years ago I outlined the calamity that British rules of engagement had caused to their campaign in Basra. The security situation began very well at the initiation of Operation Iraqi Freedom, but devolved into one in which the British were completely ineffective at fighting the insurgency and had evacuated their outposts and retreated to their largest base.
Due to leaked MoD papers we now know certain details directly from the British on just how hamstrung their troop were due to the ROE.
Despite fighting “the most sustained conflict since the Korean War”, the rules left troops with one hand tied behind their backs, the secret documents said. Ministers refused to change the rules although they caused “significant” casualties.
British soldiers were banned from opening fire unless the Iraqis were actually pointing their weapons at them.
Read more ....My Comment: I have to stop reading articles like this one .... my blood pressure always goes into the danger zone.
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