Military feeling Iraq fatigue, warns general

[Texpat]

Nicholas Watt
Sunday November 18, 2007
The Observer

"British troops feel 'devalued, angry' and are 'suffering from Iraq fatigue', according to the head of the army, who warns that Britain's military covenant is under strain.

In a stark assessment of the morale of British troops, General Sir Richard Dannatt warns that the pressures of waging two simultaneous campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan are 'mortgaging the goodwill of our people'.

Dannatt's comments are made in his Staff Briefing Team Report for 2007, leaked to the Sunday Telegraph, in which he warns that the 'military covenant is clearly out of kilter'.

The chief of the general staff writes: 'We must strive to give individuals and units ample recuperation time between operations, but I do not underestimate how difficult this will be to achieve whilst undermanned and with less robust establishments than I would like.'

Referring to overstretch, the report warns: 'The tank of goodwill now runs on vapour; many experienced staff are talking of leaving'.

Dannatt's remarks will make uncomfortable reading for a succession of defence secretaries who are held responsible for failing to secure good financial settlements for the armed forces. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the report, which airs the grievances of soldiers, is designed to provide feedback for the military top brass."

Military feeling Iraq fatigue, warns general | Politics | The Observer

The British presence in Iraq peaked with 46,000 troops during the March 2003 invasion. It was reduced to 18,000 that May, and 8,600 by the end of May 2004. This past May, there were about 5,500 British troops in Iraq.

[Butterfly]

The one good thing that this joke of a war has taught the military is that a "professional" army can't fight a long war and an invasion. Great for peace keeping and a few rapid interventions for a few months or years, but impossible for long term conflicts.

This conflict will be taught in the annals of military strategies as an example not to follow, a bit like Napoleon Waterloo,

[Sir Burr]

^
Can't include Waterloo. As Wellington himself said "It was a close run thing".
Napolean was only defeated by the arrival of Blucher and his troops who managed to quick march to arrive on the battle-field. If Blucher didn't arrive when he did, Napoleon would have won.

[Texpat]

never mind...

Brits have a sizable contingent in Afghanistan.

[blackgang]

So the Brits are running out of gas, But suppose that the US GIs are still full of piss and vinegar and chomping at the bit to kill some more of those society supressing Talibans.

Be better for everyone if they would load Pattaya Walking Street up and move it to one of the big bases there and then there would be an improvement in,

how difficult this will be to achieve whilst undermanned and with less robust establishments than I would like.'

And have the needed "Robustness" there..