Tough on Terror ...

[KentPhilip]

tough on terrorism, tough on the causes of terrorism.

Can't we just invade Saudi so we can get their oil without us having to pay them in weapons?

[AlfredJPruffock]

...except when they are from Saudi, what no impassioned speech from Tony Blair about these terrorists ...aha but the Saudis are good guys who buy loads of weapons from us so then its all OK I guess ...

From the Telegraph

Foreign terrorists, led by fighters from Saudi Arabia, are behind an upsurge in attacks against British troops in Basra, military sources said yesterday.

As the Army suffered the highest number of fatal attacks in a month since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, commanders on the ground are concerned at the level of sophistication and ferocity of the assaults.



Morale is also being affected by the continual danger, with older soldiers saying the apprehension is similar to that experienced on the streets of Northern Ireland in the 70s and early 80s.

"People are dying and morale is being affected by it," said an officer operating in Iraq.

"The perception is that attacks are becoming more lethal and better targeted and the delivery process is more effective. There is a definite sense that we are still making progress but because there is no real defence against IEDs people are feeling a bit glummer."

Commanders are concerned that Saudi and other foreign fighters are co-ordinating the attacks in a "consensual environment", in which the locals will not tell the military where roadside bombs have been planted. "The concern is that support for our presence is going down," a defence source said.