Article

2003-03-26 Iraq

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Posted by Becky 2003-03-26 10:36 am|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon Wednesday dismissed reports that British troops had been deployed on Iraq's eastern border to counter any intervention in the Iraq war by Iran. "Much of coalition-controlled Iraq bordering Iran is under British
command, but the suggestion that Royal Marines were sent to guard against Iranian forces are simply not true," Hoon told MPs. "We are seeking close contact with Iranian authorities to reduce
the scope for any potential misunderstanding," he said in reference to a report by the BBC that the US and UK were concerned about Iran's interference in the war. On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw dismissed the BBC's
claims about Iranian troops as 'poor' reporting, saying that there was 'no basis of evidence at all to substantiate' claimed Iranian militia
incursions. Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions Wednesday, Tony Blair also said 'there appears to be no substance' to reports that Iranian irregular militia had opened fire on British troops. "I think they know what the consequences for any such action against British military troops will be," he said. Messages sent to Iran had been 'very, very clear' he said, adding he believed that they 'will be heeded'. His more stark tone contrasted with Straw emphasizing that the importance he attached to developing good relations with Iran and
saying that he was 'only in touch with Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi talking about this and other matters last Thursday'.
This is another reason Brit Forces are on the right flank, the British have much better relations with the Iranians than we do.

Posted by Steve 2003-03-26 09:02:16|| 2003-03-26 09:02:16|| Front Page Top

#2 I saw a Brit embed report someplace yesterday where he watched Iranian gunners shooting at an A-10 while it was making an attack run.

This sounds like a really good idea.

Posted by Chuck 2003-03-26 09:18:32|| [blog.simmins.org] 2003-03-26 09:18:32|| Front Page Top

#3 Shooting an automatic weapon at a Hog,not to bright.

Posted by raptor 2003-03-26 12:52:02|| 2003-03-26 12:52:02|| Front Page Top

#4 Iran is torn between publicly denouncing the "imperialist" war on a fellow Muslim country and co-operating tacitly with America and Britain in removing the old enemy, Saddam Hussein.

Hah, stuck between Iraq and a hard place. Don'tcha just love this sort of thing?

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2003-03-26 15:56:00|| 2003-03-26 15:56:00|| Front Page Top

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