Sun: "Our Boys face more missions after Mali success"

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Wednesday May 22, 2013 11:19

by Stasia

Irish soldiers under British command in Africa: "It's been a pleasure!"

Sun newspaper, Wed May 22 2013:
There is still [a British] appetite to influence world affairs.
UK troops are supporting operations in Mali and Somalia and are on stand-by to aid the government in Libya.
During his two-day trip, Mr Hammond congratulated Brits at Koulikoro base, who are deployed with Irish troops for the first time since 1922. He said the Queen’s 2011 trip to Ireland brought a change in Anglo-Irish relations.
Sgt Gerry Setright, 49, of the Irish Defence Forces, said of working with the Brits: “It’s been a pleasure. We are closer than people think.”

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our...aRMDs

Sun article, by David Willets, Deputy Defence Editor:

BRITISH troops were put on red alert for more military strikes in Africa last night — in a bid to prevent another Afghan nightmare.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond announced the move on a visit to Mali.
In a daring intervention there, French troops routed al-Qaeda terrorists threatening to overrun the West African nation.
They were aided by UK spy plane expertise and British soldiers training Mali troops.
The successful mission, which is now winding up, will be a blueprint for rapid strikes on militants in other shaky states.
By going in early with fewer men, Mr Hammond believes we won’t be dragged into another Afghan war lasting years.

He said: “We should be — and are — prepared to intervene upstream to stabilize countries at risk of failing.
“We can protect our national security that way, rather than waiting for them to fail and having to go in mob-handed.” Our troops may have to engage on MULTIPLE fronts to halt the spread of terror to Europe. Mr Hammond warned: “We might have to do these small-scale interventions in more than one location at once.
“Using small specialist interventions, normally working with allies, to support and shape governments in areas at risk of failure avoids having to make much bigger military interventions later.”
His admission is a sign that despite our Forces’ dwindling numbers there is still an appetite to influence world affairs.
UK troops are supporting operations in Mali and Somalia and are on stand-by to aid the government in Libya.
During his two-day trip, Mr Hammond congratulated Brits at Koulikoro base, who are deployed with Irish troops for the first time since 1922. He said the Queen’s 2011 trip to Ireland brought a change in Anglo-Irish relations.
Sgt Gerry Setright, 49, of the Irish Defence Forces, said of working with the Brits: “It’s been a pleasure.
“We are closer than people think.”