 | Basra Issues Warrant for Two SAS Operatives....| SitRep Discuss Basra Issues Warrant for Two SAS Operatives.... in the Military Matters forums; Basra warrant for two UK soldiers......
Petrol bombs were thrown at British armoured vehicles on Monday
A Basra judge has ... |
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09-24-2005, 06:59 PM
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#1 | | Minister of Whoopass
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi
Posts: 12,971
Country: | Basra Issues Warrant for Two SAS Operatives.... Basra warrant for two UK soldiers......
Petrol bombs were thrown at British armoured vehicles on Monday
A Basra judge has issued an arrest warrant for two British soldiers after an Iraqi civilian was reportedly killed and a police officer injured.
The two servicemen - believed to be undercover SAS officers - were detained after a confrontation on Monday.
UK troops later freed the soldiers from Iraqi custody after storming a police station in the southern Iraqi city.
Defence Secretary John Reid said no warrant had been received - and British personnel were immune from Iraqi laws.
"The MoD has not received any arrest warrant relating to any British personnel in Iraq," he said.
"Iraqi law is very clear: British forces remain subject to British jurisdiction.
"Even if such a warrant was issued, it would therefore be of no legal effect."
British forces spokesman Major Steve Melbourne said the two men had immunity from prosecution under an arrangement between the Iraqi government and coalition forces.
But he said the UK would "work closely" with the Iraqi investigation team, and with the Iraqi government.
"This has started and we'll see what comes from that into the events of Monday night."
However, the judge told the BBC he was not convinced the two men were British and therefore would not be immune from arrest and possible prosecution in Iraq.
BBC correspondent Richard Galpin said that if the men were found guilty of deliberately killing an Iraqi civilian they could face life imprisonment.
It was widely believed that the soldiers on an intelligence mission in the city when they were challenged by Iraqi police officers, our correspondent said.
Iraqi police and the interior ministry say that the soldiers opened fire when challenged.
The BBC's Caroline Hawley said the issuing of the warrant indicated there was "a lot of local politicking going on".
"This judge knows that, certainly in some circles, what happened [on Monday] was extremely unpopular," she said.
News of the warrant follows a week in which authorities in Basra said they would not co-operate with UK troops.
Basra's governor, Mohammed al-Waili, said there would be no co-operation until there was an apology for the raid to free the soldiers.
The UK has defended its action, saying the soldiers were handed to militiamen by rogue elements in the police, but Interior Minister Baqir Solagh Jabr has denied this.
British troops have reduced their presence on the Iraqi city's streets.
On Wednesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari and Mr Reid said the unrest had not strained relations between the two countries.
__________________ "Boyington was a Drunk, but He was a Drunk We'd Follow Straight Into Hell..."
-- Lt. William Northrop Case |
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09-24-2005, 07:51 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK
Posts: 11,249
Country: | I read about this on the BBC News Website - weird. Something has got to be going on.
__________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts"
Sir Winston Churchill "To him the people of the world largely owe the Freedom and liberties they enjoy today"
Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London Moderator WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum |
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09-25-2005, 06:41 AM
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#3 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 29,456
Country: | This all has to do with the soldiers who broke into the prison and rescued some people. I think it goes deeper than either country is willing to tell.
__________________ US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" |
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09-25-2005, 09:48 AM
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#4 | | "Shooter"
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 12,556
Country: | I don't believe that we will ever know the whole story. Something smells of an op gone VERY wrong.
__________________ http://www.vg-photo.com Wherever their bones may lie, the courage of heroes is consecrated in the hearts and engraved in the history of the free. Lt Col Honner DSO MC, 39th Commander speaking of the dead from the battle of Kokoda. |
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09-25-2005, 11:11 AM
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#5 | | the old Sage
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere
Posts: 9,003
Country: | I will refrain from making comment except to say : the Iraquis are quite lucky they did not lose a host of soldiers with this incident |
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09-25-2005, 12:27 PM
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#6 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 29,456
Country: | I agree I think it was some secret squirrel **** that went bad.
__________________ US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" |
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09-25-2005, 01:13 PM
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#7 | | the old Sage
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere
Posts: 9,003
Country: | actually quite sad that the frickin media got wind of this and will now try and warp humanities eyes with their own version as to what really happened. We fought crap like this in Nam and elsewhere, and it continues today |
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09-25-2005, 01:41 PM
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#8 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 29,456
Country: | That I can believe too. CNN is going to warp it to get a good story.
__________________ US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" |
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10-30-2005, 01:30 AM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,057
Country: | Not really, they put the story up in the light for a few days, now nothing. I'm amazed by the tank commander that abandoned his position when it was assault by the mob.
Iraq has issued warrants for a few other British troops after this one. I'm quite amazed they even bother, like Britain will hand anyone over. It just proves the Iraqis will smile to your face and shoot you in the back, the Iraqi police had handed the two lads over to the local insurgent militia - that's why the British forces had to break-in to the police station. They had to find out where they were and rescue them before the scum beheaded them and made a big deal about beheading these lads.
Did anyone see the kit they had on them? And I heard the Iraqi police fired on them first. So ...just goes to show ...one leader is destroyed ...a democracy is formed ...but it's still a scumhole.
__________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004  To those in that club. |
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10-30-2005, 01:10 AM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: UK
Posts: 3,505
Country: | I think the commanders who launched what ever they where doing want a swift kick up the arse they keep sending in special forces into untenable situations they where not in the desert but trying to be inconspicuous in a busy town, which for westerners in a middle eastern environment is very hard. Even T E Lawrence had major problems and he was fluent in language and customs and had many Arab friends to help hide him so I blame the knobs in charge for putting them in that situation. (it ain't Northern Ireland)
__________________ "Only thoses who lose freedom know it's true worth" Unknown French woman interviewed June 1944 |
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10-30-2005, 01:14 AM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,057
Country: | I know. It was extremely stupid ...but I suppose it has to be done to some extent. I imagine a lot pretend to be media or aid workers - unless the anti-military factions forbid this under 'law'.
__________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004  To those in that club. |
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10-30-2005, 01:45 AM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: UK
Posts: 3,505
Country: | Possibly D but not many aid workers or media bods walk around carrying automatic weapons concealed or not
__________________ "Only thoses who lose freedom know it's true worth" Unknown French woman interviewed June 1944 |
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10-30-2005, 01:56 AM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,057
Country: | I know. But I suppose they're out of options over there. I reckon British High Command wish the problem was back in Northern Ireland ...at least then the SAS lads can blend in.
All I'm fussed about is the British governments less than firm view. Tony Blair himself should have given the Iraqi government a firm no and stated with no sugar coating that they were British troops and thus were under British law, not Iraqi law. And will not be handed over nor will they be investigated as they were acting in self-defence, just how they were trained.
__________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004  To those in that club. |
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10-30-2005, 06:02 AM
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#14 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 29,456
Country: | That I agree with.
__________________ US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" |
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10-30-2005, 09:58 AM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK
Posts: 11,249
Country: | Me too.
__________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts"
Sir Winston Churchill "To him the people of the world largely owe the Freedom and liberties they enjoy today"
Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London Moderator WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum |
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