If the Iraqi Prime Minister does not want our troops involved and the Americans are willing to go into Basra, knowing British troops are there, why don't we get out and leave them to it?

Mike, Sole Street, England

It is high time we stopped meddling in the affairs of other countries. Whether we like it or not many of the world's problems today stem from British colonial meddling - Palestine and Zimbabwe to name but two.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

The reason for the 1/20 troop casualties may be because British Armed Forces are better trained and more combat savvy than the US Troops. Dont forget this is urban combat, not great swathes of desert and steppe.

Jon, London, England

To Ben: Easy to "pacify" if that means going in AFTER the US captured the city (in 2 weeks) and then doing nothing while the militias ran Basra. Just plain useless.

John, Redland, Eire

Hey Jack, if the Brits "pacified" Basra in 3 days, why did they then think it needed storming? Back to reality, dude.

J Claro, Cleggan, Ireland

Ministry of Defence in "well he started it!!" whine

Simes, Sevenoaks,

Jack
I believe we have 6700 British Casualties in Iraq with 103 fatalities?

So I think we have done our fair share!

I don't see battalions of Israeli troops helping out!

Why's that then!!

Simon, Bristol, UK

Certainly a different spin on things now...Extra large helpings of humble apple pie coming Stateside way !!! .. Cream with that guys?

kirk, Rotherham, UK

'British commanders wanted to storm Basra but the Iraqi leader sent for US Marines'.

One can only assume that the Iraqi leader wanted everyone in the city dead.

Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,

The simple facts:

The war on Iraq was initiated by the USA on ALL occasions - initially to find someone to fight after 9/11 and also the US Arms Deals in Saudi Arabia; then to secure Oil and re-build contracts.

Tony Blair did no one (except himself) any good.

Our Troops - OUT, NOW.

Peter Hartley, Guildford, UK

How will we ever really know what happened? One thing I do believe is that the soldiers would want to take the honourable path but they are controlled by politicians with dishonourable intent and have always been severely under funded and under manned in Iraq. No wonder many are leaving our forces.

Alan, Northampton, Northants

To Jack: The US forces spent months trying to capture Basra initially. British forces took 3 days to pacify it. They're just plain better. Deal with it.

Ben, London, England

Don't allow all the blame to be placed on the Iraquis.

To plan an 'event' with 900 Americans took weeks.

Should not our 'honourable' allies (USA) have had the courtessy to let us know what they were planning in an area supposedly under British control?

Game over - British Troops OUT

J D S, Cardiff, UK

I wonder now if some of the American posters from yesterdays article who were so ready to insult our brave soldiers will come and apologize? Seems it is in fact your Iraqi 'allies' (you know the ones that were your enemies who you cut a deal with) who are to blame for this whole mess.

J Roberts, Manchester, UK

I believe that the 3d phase of the suggested plan of G, Mohan and the British commanders should have preceded the second one and this op must havebeen done last yea by using special Briti combat units such as .......and Iraqi forces from Baghd.If the Brititsh had done so they would have succeeded

Mahmood, Amman,

Of course UK is going to sweep every thing under the rug. This situation calls for an intensive investigation by US and the Iraqis. At this point UK is not to be trusted. Such dealings will result to loss of lives. Records indicates that UK has had only about 1/20 or less losses compared to US.

Jack Love, Jerusalem, Israel

To Hell with them, leave them to rot, Pull our troops out now. Let George Bush start WW3 before he leaves office. Without TB holding him back he would have started WW3 years ago

Ged for New England, N Yorks, UK

If he refuses to use our troops and seems to not want us there, then why don't we leave? Then they may have more appreciation of what our troops achieve.

Rob, Singapore,

puts a completely differemt spin on the earlier story

will, grimsby, uk