Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Prince Andrew Rebukes Bush for Iraq War Mistakes

Even the rarely politically outspoken Prince of England is trashing our joke of a President. What a disgrace:

The United States could have avoided some of the problems it is experiencing in Iraq if it had listened to Britain's advice and learned from its experiences, Prince Andrew said in an interview published Tuesday as he began a trade mission to the U.S.

In a rare airing of political opinion by a senior member of the British royal family, the prince said the invasion and its aftermath had created a "healthy skepticism" in Britain about what was said in Washington and led many to ask, "Why didn't anyone listen to what was said and the advice that was given?"

Queen Elizabeth II's second son, a former Royal Navy helicopter pilot who now promotes British business abroad, told the International Herald Tribune that Britain's history as an imperial power meant it had valuable experience to share.

The United States was Britain's chief ally, he said, but, there were "occasions when people in the U.K. would wish that those in responsible positions in the U.S. might listen and learn from our experiences."

Britain, which has about 4,500 troops in Iraq, down from a 40,000 during the 2003 invasion, has a long military history in the region; British troops invaded what was then Mesopotamia in 1914 during World War I, and fought insurgents until Iraq gained its independence in 1932.

"If you are looking at colonialism, if you are looking at operations on an international scale, if you are looking at understanding each other's culture, understanding how to operate in a military insurgency campaign — we have been through them all," the prince said in comments confirmed by Buckingham Palace.

"We've won some, lost some, drawn some. The fact is there is quite a lot of experience over here which is valid and should be listened to."

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