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| Was the UK mission in Iraq a success? | Was the UK mission in Iraq a success? |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| British combat operations in Iraq have come to an end. How successful has the mission been? | British combat operations in Iraq have come to an end. How successful has the mission been? |
| A ceremony has been held in Basra to mark the official end of the six-year British military presence in Iraq. UK combat operations finished when 20 Armoured Brigade handed over to a US brigade at a "flagdown ceremony". | A ceremony has been held in Basra to mark the official end of the six-year British military presence in Iraq. UK combat operations finished when 20 Armoured Brigade handed over to a US brigade at a "flagdown ceremony". |
| The withdrawal of most of the remaining 4,000 troops, comes a month ahead of schedule. Earlier a memorial service took place in Basra for the 179 British personnel who died during the conflict. | The withdrawal of most of the remaining 4,000 troops, comes a month ahead of schedule. Earlier a memorial service took place in Basra for the 179 British personnel who died during the conflict. |
| Southern Iraq is more peaceful than it was a year ago but when British forces invaded as part of the US-led coalition in 2003 few people imagined troops would still be in the country six years later. | Southern Iraq is more peaceful than it was a year ago but when British forces invaded as part of the US-led coalition in 2003 few people imagined troops would still be in the country six years later. |
| Are you in Iraq? Have you served there or do you know someone who has? Has the mission been a success? What does this day mean to you? Send us your comments. | Are you in Iraq? Have you served there or do you know someone who has? Has the mission been a success? What does this day mean to you? Send us your comments. |
| Read the full story Read your most recent comments Read the second page of comments Read the third page of comments | Read the full story Read your most recent comments Read the second page of comments Read the third page of comments |
| We are having serious technical problems with the usual Have Your Say service which our engineers are working to fix. | We are having serious technical problems with the usual Have Your Say service which our engineers are working to fix. |
| In the meantime we are using the form on the right to ask for your comments. We will aim to publish as many of your views as we can. | In the meantime we are using the form on the right to ask for your comments. We will aim to publish as many of your views as we can. |
| We apologise for any inconvenience. | We apologise for any inconvenience. |
| Your comments | Your comments |
| I was in Aden in 1967, the politicos let us down then."Lions led by donkeys". We should be proud of our Armed Forces, it is not they who have let their country down!Bruce Pritchard, Westcliff-on-Sea/UK | |
| Six years, and we still have not been told why this war was fought. We were told WMD, but this was soon exposed as a sales job rather than a sincere concern. We need an enquiry to clarify the motives, goals, objectives, price (in monetary, human, and world standing terms), and return on investment. Why did we embark on this war and what did we achieve?Ed, Oxford UK | Six years, and we still have not been told why this war was fought. We were told WMD, but this was soon exposed as a sales job rather than a sincere concern. We need an enquiry to clarify the motives, goals, objectives, price (in monetary, human, and world standing terms), and return on investment. Why did we embark on this war and what did we achieve?Ed, Oxford UK |
| For me having served at Basra International Airport twice this is great news. The most poignant part about Operation Telic is that it's given hope to ordinary Iraqi people that their country can be run by themselves with foreign intervention and mass violence. Those that lost their lives during our time there didn't do so in vain. My hope for the future is that Iraq will fulfil its potential as a nation and become as successful as the Gulf states.Peter Alsop, Calne, Wiltshire | |
| I think our men and women did a fantastic job of soldiering and showed immense bravery. That said, I have never understood exactly what the aims of their mission were. Unless someone can show me a clear list of what they were there to achieve - how can I, or anyone else, know if their mission was a success?Mike Poole, Bexhill, East Sussex | |
| My brother was killed in 2005 whilst working for a private security contractor, by a roadside bomb. Although he was ex military, he wasn't military when he was killed and often people like my brother aren't mentioned or included in "official figures" of British personnel killed during the war. So it was pleasing and moving to hear his name read out at the memorial this morning. R.I.P all those that gave their lives, military or not.Barry Holloway, Melksham, England | |
| That depends on whether or not Iraq allows foreign oil companies to take control of its supplies. The main purpose of the invasion was to secure those supplies. Any other reason is a lie. In today's Guardian we see the developing dictatorship under the new PM Maliki, so let's not consider rubbish like "freeing the people" from Saddam. Western Governments couldn't care less about democracy in Iraq - they only want stability.Michael Russell, Isle of Skye, Scotland | That depends on whether or not Iraq allows foreign oil companies to take control of its supplies. The main purpose of the invasion was to secure those supplies. Any other reason is a lie. In today's Guardian we see the developing dictatorship under the new PM Maliki, so let's not consider rubbish like "freeing the people" from Saddam. Western Governments couldn't care less about democracy in Iraq - they only want stability.Michael Russell, Isle of Skye, Scotland |
| One and a half million of us in London alone marched against the USA/UK invasion of Iraq. We said "No blood for oil" and "Not in our name". Bush and Blair ignored us. We were right they were wrong. Brown will support Obama's policy in the Middle East. How many more of our young people will be killed or wounded in Afghanistan in support of Bush's foreign policy, that is still being carried out by the USA.Pam Read, London UK | One and a half million of us in London alone marched against the USA/UK invasion of Iraq. We said "No blood for oil" and "Not in our name". Bush and Blair ignored us. We were right they were wrong. Brown will support Obama's policy in the Middle East. How many more of our young people will be killed or wounded in Afghanistan in support of Bush's foreign policy, that is still being carried out by the USA.Pam Read, London UK |
| British troops on the ground have shown their usual bravery and resource under adverse conditions and the country salutes them. Sadly lacking at the highest level was a political plan and the resources to do the job properly. It will be seen in history as a wild adventure with a 179 of our countrymen and women paying the highest price for that folly.Mark, London | British troops on the ground have shown their usual bravery and resource under adverse conditions and the country salutes them. Sadly lacking at the highest level was a political plan and the resources to do the job properly. It will be seen in history as a wild adventure with a 179 of our countrymen and women paying the highest price for that folly.Mark, London |
| The mission has been a success for the British Army, whether or not you support the mission in Iraq the boys and girl have to be congratulated for a thoroughly professional job and should be proud of themselves for improving the life and future of all citizens of Iraq.Quinton Robertson, Bellshill GB | The mission has been a success for the British Army, whether or not you support the mission in Iraq the boys and girl have to be congratulated for a thoroughly professional job and should be proud of themselves for improving the life and future of all citizens of Iraq.Quinton Robertson, Bellshill GB |
| I served in Basra & Maysan province during op Telic 4. The Baswaris were always as confused as we were as to what it was we were meant to be doing. There was never any political direction from the UK and it seemed we were getting shot at and rocketed just for the sake of it. Most of the people were very nice and I hope to return one day to see the place without a uniform and without having to walk amongst people with a rifle.Frank, Manchester | I served in Basra & Maysan province during op Telic 4. The Baswaris were always as confused as we were as to what it was we were meant to be doing. There was never any political direction from the UK and it seemed we were getting shot at and rocketed just for the sake of it. Most of the people were very nice and I hope to return one day to see the place without a uniform and without having to walk amongst people with a rifle.Frank, Manchester |
| A 'success story'? Seven years on from the official end of the war, our economy is in recession, and people are still being murdered everyday in Baghdad. Where's the success exactly? Mark, Bristol Somerset | A 'success story'? Seven years on from the official end of the war, our economy is in recession, and people are still being murdered everyday in Baghdad. Where's the success exactly? Mark, Bristol Somerset |
| I know many people have their views on the validity of the Iraq War, but I would still like to offer my thanks and respect to the men and women who have served and died during our time there. They have served their country with pride and honour and they have helped a people get their country back. Although it does not seem like it now, in years to come the UK and US will be thanked for what they did to help Iraq get its freedom from dictatorship and allow it to shape its future.Stuart Gallop, Bristol | I know many people have their views on the validity of the Iraq War, but I would still like to offer my thanks and respect to the men and women who have served and died during our time there. They have served their country with pride and honour and they have helped a people get their country back. Although it does not seem like it now, in years to come the UK and US will be thanked for what they did to help Iraq get its freedom from dictatorship and allow it to shape its future.Stuart Gallop, Bristol |
| If the mission has been such a success why are we handing over to the Americans and not the Iraqis?Matt, Hull | If the mission has been such a success why are we handing over to the Americans and not the Iraqis?Matt, Hull |
| I was over there in early 2003 as part of the initial phase. At the time, we wouldn't imagine it would have gone on for this long. A few years later, it was harder to picture and end to the situation. | I was over there in early 2003 as part of the initial phase. At the time, we wouldn't imagine it would have gone on for this long. A few years later, it was harder to picture and end to the situation. |
| It is good to finally see some closure to the conflict, the sooner our overstretched and under financed forces are home with their families the better.Richard, Bournemouth, England | It is good to finally see some closure to the conflict, the sooner our overstretched and under financed forces are home with their families the better.Richard, Bournemouth, England |
| As a former British soldier and a British citizen, I'd like to say congratulations on a very hard fought and professional campaign.Scott Ellwood, Brisbane, Australia | As a former British soldier and a British citizen, I'd like to say congratulations on a very hard fought and professional campaign.Scott Ellwood, Brisbane, Australia |
| Of course it has been an unqualified success. Our troops, struggling as they always do against civil prejudice and political ill will; doing an brilliant job without the benefit of financial support from their own government, and living with death and injury at every turn; how else can anyone view it?Peter Keen, Chichester England | Of course it has been an unqualified success. Our troops, struggling as they always do against civil prejudice and political ill will; doing an brilliant job without the benefit of financial support from their own government, and living with death and injury at every turn; how else can anyone view it?Peter Keen, Chichester England |
| (Served in the RN in the invasion of AL Faw) I strongly believe we were right to be in Iraq and to rid the country of Saddam Hussain but i believe most of our problems in Iraq were caused by following the Americans lead who did not have any thought to a post war plan. We should have operated alone and to our own goals. The problem is successive governments and so underfunded the armed forces and made so many cuts we are now no longer capable of acting alone and instead have no choice but to field a puppet token force following American lead. GD Head, North Shields | (Served in the RN in the invasion of AL Faw) I strongly believe we were right to be in Iraq and to rid the country of Saddam Hussain but i believe most of our problems in Iraq were caused by following the Americans lead who did not have any thought to a post war plan. We should have operated alone and to our own goals. The problem is successive governments and so underfunded the armed forces and made so many cuts we are now no longer capable of acting alone and instead have no choice but to field a puppet token force following American lead. GD Head, North Shields |
| A great success, glad the British and other forces have helped bring greater peace to a region of such a corrupt country. In my opinion, we should have left as soon as Hussein was killed, but still...John Smith, Walsall, UK | A great success, glad the British and other forces have helped bring greater peace to a region of such a corrupt country. In my opinion, we should have left as soon as Hussein was killed, but still...John Smith, Walsall, UK |
| It's about time! They should never have been there in the first place. Liberation? No. Just a change of who holds the power, since the new government will blatantly HAVE to be pro-American. | It's about time! They should never have been there in the first place. Liberation? No. Just a change of who holds the power, since the new government will blatantly HAVE to be pro-American. |
| I don't know who they still think they're fooling...this was always about the oil!Ash, Chester | I don't know who they still think they're fooling...this was always about the oil!Ash, Chester |
| It means my 14 year old son has a more of a chance to live in a peaceful world. I'm very, very proud of our troops .Keith Woodhead, Newcastle Upon Tyne , England | It means my 14 year old son has a more of a chance to live in a peaceful world. I'm very, very proud of our troops .Keith Woodhead, Newcastle Upon Tyne , England |
| How can the mission be described as a success when the reasons for going in the first place have turned out to be complete fabrication. One hundred and seventy-nine British troops lost and God knows how many Iraqis; for practically no reason at all.David Sheldon, Warwick, UK |