Thurso condemns call for troops to go under U.S. control in Iraq
October 19, 2004 12:00 AM
Local MP, John Thurso, has expressed concern at the American request for a 650-strong British battalion to take over in an area of Iraq south of Baghdad.
The MP said:
"This is a very controversial decision. There is a great risk that by allowing the deployment of our troops south of Baghdad, we will be exposing them to great danger and it will make it much harder to achieve an exit strategy.
While Mr Hoon tells us that no decision has been made, it seems that a battle group of 650 soldiers from the Black Watch has already been earmarked to "backfill" for US marines in Iskandariya and Latifiya, about 15 miles south of Baghdad. This is a dangerous area with both towns having been under attack from insurgents. Only three days ago nine Iraqi policemen were murdered at Latifiya.
I find it particularly worrying that our troops could be moved outside their present field of operation and placed under a US chain of command. Our troops should not be put into a position in which they may have to choose between following an order or following their training and instincts".
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