Liberal Democrat Leader Ming Campbell has demanded an explanation from the Government after it controversially transferred 350 troops to Basra, near the Iraq-Iran border. The Independent reports that the deployment was at the request of the Americans, and quotes Ming:
“This is yet more evidence of the lack of a coherent strategy for the deployment of British troops in Iraq. It would be disastrous if we were drawn into some kind of proxy war with Iran.
“It would serve neither regional nor international interests and would put British lives at further risk,” he added. “We have consistently called for the early withdrawal of British forces from Iraq as their presence is not helping establish the lasting peace the country so desperately needs.”
I don’t know why you are undermining our great victory when we we retreated from Basra by dead of night with our tails between our legs. We have left Basra in good hands – the Shiite militias have been been well trained by the Iranians.