Basra erupts in bloody gun battles
The sheer scale of the disconnect between Bush and Blair's halcyon descriptions of Iraq and the reality on the ground were displayed on the streets of Basra yesterday when a British helicopter was downed, reportedly attacked by a missile launcher, which - if true - marks a significant step forward in the insurgents capabilities.
As British forces attempted to reach the wreckage, they were swiftly surrounded by hostile crowds who threw petrol bombs to prevent them from reaching the downed helicopter.
Troops opened fire with live ammo and are believed to have killed four Iraqis.
'We can confirm that there has been a helicopter crash in Basra,' said Major Sebastian Muntz, a British military spokesman in the city. 'British troops are on the scene assisting and emergency services are present.' It was fire crews fighting the flames around the helicopters who told local reporters that there were four charred bodies.Des Browne, who was only made Defence Secretary in the recent reshuffle , reassured us that cliched responses would continue to come from his department, despite new management, by stating: 'This tragic incident reminds us of the risks our servicemen and women face every day in helping to support the emerging democracy in Iraq and give all Iraqis hope for a better future.'
As the British troops moved into the site they were met by a hail of stones from a crowd of several hundred angry people. Molotov cocktails impacted on the armour of the Warrior fighting vehicles sending gouts of orange fire into the air. Soldiers emerged periodically to douse the flames.
As word of the incident spread, the crowds grew. They also changed in character. Where they had earlier been spontaneous, they soon took on a more organised nature. A clue as to why lay in the chants the rioters hurled at the troops: 'Victory to the Mehdi Army', they shouted, a reference to the armed militia of the radical Shia cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr. His men - and the Medhi army - have repeatedly been responsible for violent unrest in Basra and elsewhere in southern and central Iraq, though the extent of their involvement in bombings and missile strikes is unclear.
Quite how he squared giving the Iraqis "hope" with the fact that those same Iraqis were throwing petrol bombs at his troops was a point that Mr Browne did not care to elaborate upon.
This is the perfect example of how far Bush and Blair now find themselves removed from reality. It didn't even occur to Browne that what he was saying was ridiculous. No matter what is happening on the ground the US and UK spokesmen have learned their script.
They simply repeat the words, "liberation, freedom, hope and democracy" and insert them liberally any time they are asked about any situation regarding Iraq.
Which is why we now find ourselves in this Orwellian nightmare. We have become so locked into positive spin mode that when we are attacked with petrol bombs we see it as Iraqis expressing their hope in a better, more democratic future.
Back here on planet Earth, I'd say that's a rather strong indication that they'd like us to leave.
Call me a cynic.
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