British Troops in Iraq Begin Deployment

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041027/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=716

~snip~



The British soldiers' families expressed worries Wednesday that the redeployment puts the troops in greater danger.


"It wasn't a cake walk in Basra but it's going to be a lot, lot more dangerous up there," said James Buchanan, 56, from Arbroath in central Scotland, who has two sons with the regiment in Iraq. "They're going to get one hell of a kicking this time," he said.


Nearly 800 Scottish soldiers of the First Battalion, Black Watch are to replace U.S. forces who are expected to take part in offensives against insurgent strongholds west and north of the capital in an attempt to bring order to Iraq before elections in January.


The American military wants the British to assume security responsibility in areas close to Baghdad, so U.S. Marines and soldiers can be shifted to



Soldiers of the British 1st Battalion Black Watch wait on their vehicles atop American heavy transport vehicles in Basra, Iraq (news - web sites), Wednesday Oct. 27, 2004, before their move to an area south of Baghdad. The British military said Wednesday some 800 Black Watch troops have begun their deployment north towards Baghdad from their base in southern Iraq. (AP Photo/ Giles Penfound, MoD/ Crown Copyright)

[Englander]

1. Blair;BlackWatch "will be home for Christmas".....

but which year?



Land-Rovers of the Black Watch regiment stand ready for deployment to base near Hilla

[saigon68]

2. 2005 Maybe Christmas

[G_j]

3. has there been any word on Margaret Hassan?

:-(