Army fears reprisals as Blair orders abuse video inquiry

[rodeodance]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1708480,00.html

Army fears reprisals as Blair orders abuse video inquiry

Richard Norton-Taylor
Monday February 13, 2006
The Guardian

Military commanders yesterday stepped up security for British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in the wake of a video apparently showing soldiers brutally attacking defenceless Iraqi teenagers.

The video was shown on TV channels in the Arab world just as ministers and Muslim leaders are trying to dampen the row over the publication of cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad, and when thousands of British troops are preparing to be deployed to the hostile environment of southern Afghanistan.

It has come at a "bad time", a senior defence source admitted. The Ministry of Defence, still reeling after a series of cases of alleged abuse of Iraqis by British troops, said that the video appeared genuine, describing it as "extremely disturbing", and saying military police had begun an urgent investigation.

The film is described as a "secret home video" which was obtained by the News of the World, and apparently was filmed from a rooftop for fun by a corporal who is heard laughing and urging on at least eight of his colleagues. It shows the troops repeatedly kicking and punching civilians with batons after seizing them following riots two years ago in the Basra region in which British forces were attacked. Another soldier, apparently a corporal, mocks the youths and urges his colleagues on. The newspaper declined to name the regiment, understood to be based in Germany, to try to avoid reprisals.......

[marmar]

1. Tony Blair is just as guilty as the soldiers...

He and his American Sith Lord created the climate for this crap to happen.

[rodeodance]

4. yes. time to get them out of Iraq.

Tony Blair said: "We take seriously any allegations of mistreatment and those will be investigated very fully indeed."

But he added that the "overwhelming majority" of British troops behaved properly and did a "great job for our country and for the wider world". They deserved the "fullest support" for their role in Iraq.

Speaking at a press conference in South Africa where he is attending a summit of centre-left leaders, the prime minister said: "Their presence there, under a United Nations resolution, helping Iraqis become the democracy they want to become, is of fundamental importance, not just to the security in Iraq but to the security of my country, Britain, and the wider international community."

The chancellor, Gordon Brown, said that if the allegations were true, they showed "unacceptable behaviour". Speaking on the BBC's Sunday AM programme, Mr Brown said the "loyal, hard-working, decent troops" in Iraq would see the allegations as a "slight on their great work". The shadow foreign secretary, Liam Fox, said British troops "must adhere to the highest possible standards" but added that the behaviour was not typical. The Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, Michael Moore, said that the allegations increased the urgency of setting a plan to pull troops out.

[marmar]

6. Liberal Democrat Defence spokesman Michael Moore?

:) How ironic. :)

[LynnTheDem]

8. He has the NERVE to say "under UN resolution"!!!!! HELLFIRE

for you tony the bLiar!

You SOB.

[LynnTheDem]

2. Don't do the crime if ya don't want the reprisals.

Kinda too fucking late on the supreme crime war of aggression thang.

[rodeodance]

3. I read that the Danish Troops in Irag need extra protection also.

[LynnTheDem]

7. I read that. Protection for troops. Who's protecting the protection?

What a massive FUBAR.

[High Plains]

9. It's FUBARed beyond all recognition.

[gratuitous]

5. They're more worried about the timing than the beatings

That says as much as I need to hear. "Gee, some people might take it the wrong way when the videos of our boys beating hapless innocents gets out."