British Army Hands Control Of Basra To US Forces
(NSI News Source Info) April 1, 2009: Britain today handed the US control of Basra airport, where thousands of its troops have been based since the invasion of Iraq, six years ago.
In a ceremony marking the UK's official withdrawal from Iraq, Major General Andy Salmon transferred authority to a US major general, Michael Oates.
Major General Andy Salmon (left), former head of coalition operations in south east Iraq, shakes hands with General Michael Oates to hand over military command of coalition forces in Basra.
Most of the 4,100 British troops will go by 31 May, the day they complete their combat mission. Around 300 will stay, mentoring and training Iraqi officers and sailors.
Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, chief of the defence staff, flew in from London for the changing of the guard ceremony, and the Royal Marines band played Reveille as the US 10th Mountain Division hoisted its standard in place of the British division banner, which had flown there.
"This occasion is about the countless numbers of young men and women from far-flung corners of the US and the various reaches of the British Isles, who have together striven here with such commitment, such dedication and courage, over so long a period," Stirrup said.
He continued: "We remember particularly at such a time those who paid the ultimate price in this endeavour, those who suffered injury and disablement, in order that we might get to this point today." Since 2003, 179 UK personnel have died in Iraq, 43 as a result of illness or accidents.
In Basra yesterday, there was talk of gallantry and hardships endured, but the memory of only one former British leader was invoked – Winston Churchill. There was no mention of Tony Blair, the prime minister who sent Britain to war in 2003, nor of the man who replaced him, Gordon Brown, who by the end of July will have withdrawn all remaining British forces except the few hundred who will stay on to train Iraqis. Nor was anyone present from Westminster.
General Ray Odierno. the US commander in Iraq, paid tribute to reconstruction efforts, which are slowly taking shape in Basra after eight relatively stable months.
"Under the former regime, the people of Basra suffered from oppression and neglect," he said. "Only one in four people had access to running water and one in 10 had access to sewerage. The British presence here brought in projects of over $1bn [£0.7bn], and they began the process of creating sustainable employment opportunities."
While the US will be on hand in crises as well as protecting supply routes, the Iraqis now have overall responsibility for Basra's security. John Hutton, the defence secretary, said: "The Iraqis have not reached this point on their own. Thousands of British servicemen and women have stood shoulder to shoulder with them during the past six years.
"Thanks to their shared commitment, sacrifice and resilience, Basra is now a much safer city with a bright economic future, which has put behind it the fear, misery and oppression endured under Saddam's regime. I am immensely proud of all that our people have achieved."
Aside from safer streets, Basra city, about 10miles from the fortified airport base, has yet to see the broad benefits of the money pledged. The army has funded several dozen community projects, such as pavement improvements and general clean-ups, but the extensive sewerage, water and civic works projects being planned are still up to five years off, city officials said this week.
Salmon, who took control of the Basra region last summer said: "Basra bears little resemblance to the place I came to with my headquarters eight months ago. Security was not a given and we were in the midst of six months of counter-insurgency operations"
During Salmon's tenure, British forces did not launch any combat operations, but continued to patrol jointly with Iraqi army teams in and around Basra.
General Nasier Abadi, vice-chief of staff of the Iraqi joint forces, said the people of Iraq would not forget the UK servicemen and women killed in his country.
He said security in Basra had been "transformed", adding: "On behalf of all the Iraqis, I thank the United Kingdom for the hard work and sacrifice that helped bring peace and stability to Iraq's second city."
Gordon Brown called the handover "a further step forward in the UK's work in Iraq". He added: "There have been difficult times along the way, but British troops have made an outstanding contribution to laying the ground for a stable and increasingly prosperous Basra – part of a stable, secure and prosperous Iraq."
Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said: "Our troops' outstanding courage in Iraq has been matched only by the incompetence of the political leadership which took them there. The government must now focus on what should have been their priorities all along: properly supporting the brave men and women who have made such sacrifices in this conflict, and refocusing on the vital mission in Afghanistan."
World leaders will have their work cut out at a G20 summit where U.S. President Barack Obama makes his first major international sortie, under perhaps more pressure than anyone to show that the country where the crisis began can lead the way out.
U.S.President Barack Obama makes his first major international sortie, under perhaps more pressure than anyone to show that the country where the crisis began can lead the way out.
World leaders will have their work cut out at a G20 summit where U.S. President Barack Obama makes his first major international sortie, under perhaps more pressure than anyone to show that the country where the crisis began can lead the way out.
The President of the United States, Barack Obama, right, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev look on during their meeting ahead of the G20 summit in London, Wednesday, April 1, 2009. 
