February 21, 2006
Britain‘s Defense Secretary Says Troops Face Brutal Foe
Britain‘s defense secretary defended his troops Monday, days after the emergence of video images that appeared to show British soldiers beating Iraqi civilians. News Leader reports.
... "British military police have arrested three people in connection with the images, which have soured relations between Iraqi officials and the 8,000 British troops based in the south of the country.
The media and even individuals with cell phones or digital cameras were ready to capture footage of any misbehavior, he said. ...
Civilians should try to imagine what it is like to serve on a battlefield "so we may all be a little slower to condemn and a lot quicker to understand," he said.
"In our history ... we have faced enemies before which have embraced some of these methods," he said. "Never, though, have we faced an enemy that had the will and the technological means to embrace them all on such a comprehensive scale."
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/picturephoning/archives/2006/02/011637.htm