Another landmark in the British defeat in southern Iraq was reached today when Major General Andy Salmon, of the Royal Marines, formally handed command in Basra to his US Army counterpart Major General Michael Oates.

With that, the Royal Marine flag was lowered for the last time at Basra Air Station, when the flag of the US 10th Mountain Division was raised to replace the Marines' colours.

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Well, now that we have discovered the right phraseology I reckon we can look forward to another enormous success in Afghanistan.

"Shortening and adjusting the line" was Goebbels' euphemism.

"Fighting in a different direction" was one I heard. Maybe we should rally round and provide the MoD with a new dictionary.

Daily mail did a brief but fair assessment with no "job well done" sentiments.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldne ... -Iraq.html

"No weapons of mass destruction were found, there was inadequate planning for the war's aftermath, shortcomings in equipment and the failure of the relatively small contingent in Basra to quell the bloody insurgency there..........

"Security in Basra deteriorated after the successful 2003 invasion and within a year increasing numbers of British troops were being killed by roadside bombs, gunmen and suicide attacks.

By late 2007 the small remaining British force was unable to stamp out the violence as rival Shia militias battled for control of the city.

Commanders eventually struck a deal allowing the few hundred troops remaining to withdraw to the outskirts without being attacked.

Control was restored in March 2008 when a huge force of 30,000 Iraqi and American troops arrived from Baghdad and took the city back in several days of fierce fighting."

Certainly doesnt put a gloss on it.

Wait until you see tomorrow's paper!