Failure In Iraq -- An Analysis On Britain's Experience In Iraq, And How It Is Now Impacting British Strategy In Afghanistan

British soldiers patrolling a road in Basra, Iraq, in 2007. Wisam Ahmed/Reuters

From The Defence of The Realm:

In another valuable contribution to the remarkably sparse debate on the British occupation of Iraq, MP and former Grenadier Guard Adam Holloway has published a short paper headed, "The Failure of British Political and Military Leadership in Iraq."

Holloway takes the view that the Labour Government has suborned the Armed Forces from the very top to half the way down, creating a system that often enforces what is politically convenient, not what is militarily right. This systemic failure, he argues, began with the invasion of Iraq and continues to this day. This failure, he tells us, continues to prevent us from learning from our mistakes, and is condemning us to repeat them, as we are doing in Afghanistan.

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My Comment: Defence of the Realm is one of the best blogs from Britain on military affairs. They do not disappoint in this post.

Britain Ends Military Operations In Iraq -- News Updates

British Forces End Combat Operations In Iraq -- The Telegraph

British Forces have formally ended combat operations in Iraq today in a move that means they are finally returning home after more than six years.

The drawdown of the bulk of the 3,700 UK troops remaining in Iraq will now speed up in the coming days.

Britain formally passed authority for operations in southern Iraq to US forces.

The move - a month earlier than timetabled - was disclosed as Defence Secretary John Hutton flew into Basra for a service to honour the 179 British personnel who lost their lives in the conflict.

Gordon Brown, the British Prime Minister, declared Britain and Iraq have now begun a "long-term partnership of equals".

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More News On The End Of U.K. Operations In Iraq

UK combat operations end in Iraq -- The BBC
Britain ends combat operations in Iraq -- AP
Britain ends Iraq combat operations -- AFP
Britain ends combat operations in Iraq -- The Independent
British troops officially end combat operation in southern Iraq -- The Guardian
Few tears shed as Army leaves Basra, the city where it was never able to keep order -- Times Online
Exit Iraq: British troops bow out of Basra -- This is London
British Forces End Combat Role In Iraq -- SKY News
Iraq: what does the future hold for Basra? -- the Telegraph
Iraq withdrawal: troops in massive drive to ship out army equipment. -- The Telegraph
Britain seeks role in protecting Iraqi oil supplies -- Reuters
In Iraq endgame, troops reflect on six years of blood, sweat and tears -- The Scotsman
Iraq: key events in British Forces' mission -- The Telegraph