[PEN-L:36169] Re: Ho Hum...Blair supports Bush

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At 2003-03-26 23:43 -0600, you wrote:
> Blair notes:
>   "We will obviously have to discuss the details of how we make the handover
> to civil administration in Iraq because it is important both to protect our
> own troops and make sure, frankly, that they did not give their lives in
> vain."
>
> Hmm? Does he mean that it might be dangerous to hand administration to the
> UN without keeping US and UK troops to keep order or is this code for we are
> going to keep troops in Iraq until the second coming or the New American
> Millenium?

It means that has been no joyous uprising, and Blair now knows that the
occupying British troops will be killed in a post Saddam Iraq at the rate
of half a dozen a week, for as long as it takes, 6 months, 12 months, two
years, 5 years.

That's only about 300 a year, and the Brits put up with this in northern
Ireland and don't get mawdlin about body bags like the soft yanks do, but
it is rather awkward to sell politically.... And actually even Tony might
not be up for it, sincerely anguished though he appears.

Chris Burford
London