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September 13, 2004, Scotsman BEAU GESTE FORTS TO DEFEND IRAQ'S BORDERS Gethin Chamberlain Defence Correspondent, In Baghdad COALITION forces in Iraq are building a network of 350 forts along its borders in an attempt to keep out foreign terrorists and intelligence agents who they blame for inspiring the current insurgency. Work has already started on 40 of the forts, which Britain's most senior officer in Iraq, General John McColl, described as "like something out of Beau Geste". The forts will be built along all of Iraq's borders, although senior officers admit their presence is largely symbolic and will not stop anyone determined enough to cross into the country. As well as the forts, coalition commanders are relying on the fledgling Iraqi police and armed forces to step up efforts at border control. But the Iraqi forces are still poorly paid and equipped, and lack either the means or the willingness to tackle heavily armed and committed insurgent forces. British soldiers in Iraq also believe that some Iraqi border guards turn a blind eye to foreign entrants in exchange for bribes to supplement their salaries, which are worth little more than GBP 100 a month. Since the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime last year, security experts have identified Iraq's long, poorly guarded borders as one of the greatest challenges in rebuilding the country. The foreign affairs committee of the House of Commons earlier this year warned that the insurgents, including terrorists affiliated to al-Qaeda, have been able to enter Iraq from neighbouring states. The reach of foreign-backed groups even extends as far as Baghdad, where the Iranian-linked Badr Brigade is being blamed for a campaign of bombings aimed at shops selling Western music, alcohol and women's beauty products. The forts plan is believed to be aimed primarily at Iran, which many in Iraq's government believe is behind the recent upsurge in violence in Shia areas of the country. Senior British officers, too, have indicated that they believe that Tehran is supporting insurgents. Last year the Foreign Office denied claims by one British commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Castle of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers, that Iran was involved in violence in the south of the country, but the decision to build forts along the border appears to vindicate those claims. At the time, the Foreign Office was involved in delicate diplomatic negotiations with Tehran, to the annoyance of the United States. General McColl, the deputy commanding officer of the coalition forces in Iraq, said " The forts are all being built to the same design and they do look a bit like something out of Beau Geste." Iraq is bordered by Iran, Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait General McColl said: "All the surrounding countries exert an influence and there is a particular concern in the minds of Iraqis about Iran because of their history." He added: "Because of the length of Iraq's borders, physically standing there and stopping people coming across is pie in the sky. The forts will have an effect but it will not be watertight." Privately, senior Iraqi politicians and officials believe that Iran is funding and arming some of the militias involved in the current insurgency, while also using its intelligence agents to provide information useful to the terrorists. One well-placed intelligence source said: "Iranian intelligence is providing weapons to the militias. The Iranians have got people in our army and police, I am certain of that. The Iranian border is the biggest problem." Cross-border tensions with Iran flared earlier this year when Iranian forces captured eight Royal Navy servicemen patrolling the waterways near Basra, claiming the two patrol boats had strayed into Iranian territory. The men were eventually released, but their boats and equipment were confiscated. The Western intelligence source said Iran and Syria were bent on destabilising Iraq. "The Syrians want to change the government and the Iranians want to occupy the country. The Iranians also want to wreck the elections and that is what this is all about," he said. He warned that there would be an upsurge in violence as the elections approached, and he said intelligence reports indicated that terrorists were planning to step up their campaign by attempting to kidnap government ministers. Last week Iraq's new UN ambassador Samir Sumaida'ie told The Scotsman that Iran was to blame for stirring up much of the current unrest in Iraq. He said he would use his position at the UN to tackle Iran, and Syria, on their involvement. General Abdulrazaq Abdulwahab Kamal, Baghdad's police chief, said he believed a large number of Syrians were involved in the violence in Baghdad. "They are the leaders of groups and they provide a lot of weapons," he said.
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................................................................................................................. Copyright ©2004 Gethin Chamberlain. All rights reserved. |
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