Friend or foe? British forces wary of Iraqi allies

[maddezmom]

BASRA, Iraq (AFP) - As the British soldiers fanned out quietly from the back of their armoured transport and took up defensive positions, headlights pierced the darkness farther down the moonlit Iraqi street.

When the cars pulled level with the infantrymen, who were crouched with rifles at the ready, they were revealed to be two slow-moving Iraqi police patrol vehicles, one flashing its roof lights in cautious greeting.

The soldiers were not relieved by the police's arrival. Instead they redoubled their vigilance, muttered warnings over their radios and flashed torches and red laser gunsights down side streets, watching for ambushers.

British troops in the southern Iraqi city of Basra are battling to break a reign of terror that has disrupted attempts to get the area back on its feet, but it is not always clear who their enemy is in the fight.

Patrol leaders regard Iraqi police units as probable spies for local Shiite militias and accuse them of acting as "dickers" -- or scouts -- reporting British movements to the gangs that plant roadside bombs.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070110/wl_uk_afp/iraqunrestbritain_070110082125

[EST]

1. Not at all surprising, given the recently revealed case of the

American soldier/trainer who had been shot multiple times in the back by his erstwhile "trainees."

[lligrd]

2. Heck, I'd Be Wary Too

Wasn't Saddam once an American ally?