The Americans have made a big show of requesting 650 British troops. This is less than 0.5% of the American military strength of 130,000 plus in Iraq !!!

Irrespective of the actual usefulness of obtaining these statistically insignificant numbers, the request for these British troops has been made with great visibility!!

In an almost choreographed response, the British government is making an even greater show of "considering" this request with the utmost sympathy.

Even at the time of just "considering" this request, this government has rushed out with dramatic overt gestures of firm support, and a publicly displayed keenness to meet this American demand.

Quid pro quo ? Obviously !

I scratch your back for Nov 2, won't you do the same for me next summer?

This desire to maximize the impact, for the Nov 2 US polls, is accompanied by a simultaneously attempt to minimize the negative impact of this involvement with the local British public. Downplaying the significance of this move on this side of the Atlantic.

Minimize. How? By the truly staggering declaration that "Military involvement ought to be considered ONLY at the military level.

Political evaluation is superfluous and unnecessary" !!
Why did we not think of this earlier?

Why the entire Iraq War could have been treated as just a military affair with no political angles !!

We needn't have agonized over it in Parliament or the UN!
And faced rejection by a spirited UN over the 2nd resolution approving War.

We should have just said that the invasion is just another military request from one military to another and doesn't need any political attention. Bingo!

No need for lengthy torturous attempts to link Iraq with any imminent danger. No need for imaginary linkages with WMDs, or with the even more dangerous nuclear weapons.
No need to associate Iraq with Al Qaeda.

Just treat Iraq as a military requirement of an Ally.
When a stronger ally makes a demand on a smaller ally, the smaller one should immediately ignore the political implications, and readily jump to meet the request. Wow!!

We in Britain should blindly rush to meet any and every American request. That will be the true measure of our sincerity and friendship towards our American allies. Questioning and reconsideration would be tantamount to treason.
There is no need to build a joint consensus on the issues, which jointly impact friends. Blind loyalty (from one friend to another) alone sustains a friendship.

William Russell
London

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