US calls in (British) Paras (in US uniforms) for Baghdad secret war

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/24/nparas24.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/04/24/ixhome.html

British paratroopers secretly operating in support of the SAS in Iraq are using American uniforms, weapons and vehicles as part of their cover, The Daily Telegraph has learned.

Although John Reid, the Defence Secretary, only announced this week that the Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) had become operational, a company of more than 100 paratroopers has been working for six months in Baghdad. They have reportedly become so successful that American special forces have called on their help.

The SFSG was formed mainly because it was found that small groups of highly trained SAS troopers did not have enough firepower to take on large groups of Iraqi and Afghan terrorists. The unit has already seen a substantial amount of action in Baghdad.

Whenever the SAS goes on raids to apprehend terrorists in highly dangerous areas of Baghdad, the Paras are used to provide perimeter security.

Arriving in US Humvees, dressed in American army fatigues and armed with C7 Diemaco guns - a Canadian made version of the M16, the men have fought several battles with insurgents while protecting SAS colleagues.

[IndianaGreen]

1. It is bad enough we get blamed for our crimes

it is far worse when our troops get the blame for what UK troops are doing under contract to the Pentagon.

[KeepItReal]

3. Actually the British have had way more success in Basra and the South

They (British Forces) had pretty decent (given circumstances) relations with the Iraqis and were not under the constant enemy fire our troops faced.

There is/was a distinct difference in tactics between the British troopers and our Army, National Guard, and Reserves used in Iraq.

"Senior British commanders have condemned American military tactics in Iraq as heavy-handed and disproportionate.
...
Speaking from his base in southern Iraq, the officer said: "My view and the view of the British chain of command is that the Americans' use of violence is not proportionate and is over-responsive to the threat they are facing. They don't see the Iraqi people the way we see them. They view them as untermenschen. They are not concerned about the Iraqi loss of life in the way the British are. Their attitude towards the Iraqis is tragic, it's awful.

"The US troops view things in very simplistic terms. It seems hard for them to reconcile subtleties between who supports what and who doesn't in Iraq. It's easier for their soldiers to group all Iraqis as the bad guys. As far as they are concerned Iraq is bandit country and everybody is out to kill them."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2004%2F04%2F11%2Fwtact11.xml

[saigon68]

9. They are War Criminals

History's Judgment will be harsh

[KeepItReal]

2. Kinda like our Army Rangers

Similar in mission.

[Toots]

10. In Vietnam we used ARVN Rangers and Montanards

Only no one wore US Uniforms...No One...

[pretzel4gore]

4. they got nothing on otto skorzeny!

now that was a quick witted thuggee-he loved hitler so much, many thought he was goofy, but.....compared to skorzeny, these well fed 'para' boors are nothing ....just some more state funded terrorists looking for a publicly funded pension while serving private corporate interests!
for real tactical genius, the wtc 19 set a standard no mere 'baby killers' even a wiz like skorzeny, ever gonna match. them nasty 911 fukkers mugged a $1/2 trillion dollar/year military power, and got away with it.....

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. This doesn't make sense

"They wear US uniforms so they can blend in in Baghdad where a British paratrooper would stick out and draw unwanted attention."

Huh? The US Army is just accepted, is it? More likely it's that the British Army is under-resourced, yet again, and is having to borrow US Humvees and Canadian guns, because the British armour and guns are sub-standard. This is the PR officer for the new group (the one with the SS-style badge) pretending that John Reid has given them proper equipment, when in reality he's been puting them at risk.

[MrPrax]

6. No use...

for a soldier, any soldier, that doesn't wear his country's uniform.

So much for all that bullshit about military honour and tradition...

[Xipe Totec]

7. US uniforms for cover? Don't make me laugh!

Sounds like they're being used as decoys.

[Orsino]

12. Or covering Tony Blair's unpopular behind? n/t

[dcfirefighter]

8. Doesn't sound like they're hiding being UK

It sounds like they're wearing US BDUs, probably with royal army markings.
A change in camoflauge pattern doesn't make for a covert operative.
And the British rifle, the SA-80, is almost universally reviled. Nobody else uses it. The Canadians use a 'Canadianized' M-16 (that these Paras are also using) and the Aussies use an Australian version of the Austrian Steyr AUG (the AuSteyr).

[leesa]

11. What is the point of this? Is Rummie trying to pretend he has enough

US troops? What's the scam? Why disguise them?