BAGHDAD, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Escalating violence in Iraq is forcing British troops to reconsider their withdrawal in al-Amarah and the U.S. military to review its overall tactics.
British military officials said they would return to al-Amarah if Iraqi troops cannot maintain security against attacks by militia, The Times of London reported Saturday. British forces, which withdrew two months ago because of daily mortar attacks, were poised to re-enter the southern Iraqi community after militia stormed several Iraqi police stations.
In Washington, meanwhile, President Bush, administration leaders and U.S. military commanders in Iraq met Saturday to discuss the Iraqi situation, CNN said. Administration officials said the meeting was a previously scheduled one and not called in response to increasing violence in Iraq and eroding support in the United States for the war.
In Baghdad, an Iraqi security adviser said Iraqi forces trying to strengthen security there were poorly funded, ill-trained and lacked military equipment, the Times said. The adviser's remarks followed a U.S. official saying attacks in Baghdad increased 22 percent in October, two months after a joint U.S.-Iraqi security operation began, the Times said.
