- Reaction score
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- Points
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4730966.stm
Reid urging sympathy for troops
Mr Reid says the British Army is the world's best fighting force
The British public should be more understanding of challenges faced by troops in foreign battle zones, Defence Secretary John Reid is expected to say.
He will urge people to be "slow to condemn" UK forces in Iraq in a speech to King's College in London.
"Our troops face an unprecedented and unparalleled challenge", he will say.
His comments come as three UK soldiers remain in custody over a video showing apparent abuse of Iraqi civilians. The footage has inflamed tensions there.
Two regional councils in the south of the country have ended all co-operation with the British Army.
I ask that we try to imagine what it must be like on the battlefield
John Reid
UK military police have started interviewing four Iraqi youths about the video, taken during a demonstration in Amara, southern Iraq, two years ago.
Mr Reid will say soldiers face intense scrutiny as they take on terrorists prepared to resort to any measures.
"I ask that we try to imagine what it must be like on the battlefield," he will say.
If this happens "we may be a little slower to condemn and a lot quicker to understand... the best fighting force in the world".
Mr Reid wants the difficult context of operating in an extremely hostile environment to be taken into account.
Handover demands
With the Maysan council joining its counterpart in Basra in registering a protest over the video footage, most of British-controlled Iraq is now not co-operating.
All contact with UK military and civilian authorities in Maysan has been suspended and the council has demanded the release of all the detainees from the province being held by the coalition.
The council in Basra, which has already frozen ties, has now warned its employees they will be fired if they have any involvement with the British forces.
Both councils are also demanding an immediate handover of powers from the British.
Military officials are hoping a speedy and thorough investigation into the events at Amara will help defuse tensions.
The video, released by the News of the World, shows soldiers apparently kicking and beating Iraqis, and was widely condemned.
Three soldiers have so far been arrested in relation to the video, the Ministry of Defence said.
Reid urging sympathy for troops
Mr Reid says the British Army is the world's best fighting force
The British public should be more understanding of challenges faced by troops in foreign battle zones, Defence Secretary John Reid is expected to say.
He will urge people to be "slow to condemn" UK forces in Iraq in a speech to King's College in London.
"Our troops face an unprecedented and unparalleled challenge", he will say.
His comments come as three UK soldiers remain in custody over a video showing apparent abuse of Iraqi civilians. The footage has inflamed tensions there.
Two regional councils in the south of the country have ended all co-operation with the British Army.
I ask that we try to imagine what it must be like on the battlefield
John Reid
UK military police have started interviewing four Iraqi youths about the video, taken during a demonstration in Amara, southern Iraq, two years ago.
Mr Reid will say soldiers face intense scrutiny as they take on terrorists prepared to resort to any measures.
"I ask that we try to imagine what it must be like on the battlefield," he will say.
If this happens "we may be a little slower to condemn and a lot quicker to understand... the best fighting force in the world".
Mr Reid wants the difficult context of operating in an extremely hostile environment to be taken into account.
Handover demands
With the Maysan council joining its counterpart in Basra in registering a protest over the video footage, most of British-controlled Iraq is now not co-operating.
All contact with UK military and civilian authorities in Maysan has been suspended and the council has demanded the release of all the detainees from the province being held by the coalition.
The council in Basra, which has already frozen ties, has now warned its employees they will be fired if they have any involvement with the British forces.
Both councils are also demanding an immediate handover of powers from the British.
Military officials are hoping a speedy and thorough investigation into the events at Amara will help defuse tensions.
The video, released by the News of the World, shows soldiers apparently kicking and beating Iraqis, and was widely condemned.
Three soldiers have so far been arrested in relation to the video, the Ministry of Defence said.
