Since time immemorial, or at least the 1970s, British soldiers have liked to point out that they can “do” counter-insurgency thanks to their Northern Irish experience. When David Petraeus was attempting to drum up British interest in his Iraqi surge plan last year, he was quick to say that the Brits “really understand this kind of operation” because of their time in Ireland. But now British troops, no longer required to battle the IRA, stake their claim to expertise on, er, Iraq.
The Ministry of Defence has just published some rousing interviews with troops off to “reassure” Kosovo. Here’s a selection of the reassuring things they had to say:
“We’ve taken on Basra so Kosovo will have to seriously flare up for us to be put under pressure.”
“There’s nothing new or more difficult than what we will have done in Basra. The likelihood of enemy action will be significantly different to Basra; KFOR (the NATO Kosovo Force) is not in contact the way MND(SE) [Multi-National Division South East – Iraq] was in contact on an hourly basis.”
“Iraq was a bit of a surprise. The level of action increased from three or four mortar attacks a week to three or four a night by the time we left. My company fired 40,000 rounds in Iraq. That level of combat and experience is quite different. By and large it should be quiet in Kosovo, but if it does kick off, after Iraq I think people will be surprised by our robustness.”
So watch out Kosovo Serbs: you may think you’re in Mitrovica, but from now on you’re in Basra.
