Time has gone by and upgraded technology has improved the tactics of the British forces. They are exiting Iraq starting June-July of 2007. The number of troops left behind is mostly a diplomatic unit of 5500. When one does the 'math' (so long as you are No Child Left Behind) that comes to 137.5 military personnel on duty every 40 hour week. THAT is not a military presence or occupying force. It is a diplomatic unit to protect any diplomats, statespersons or to serve visiting pilgrams and business persons should there be any. A ready force of 137.5 persons on a 40 hour week rotation is hardly a force anyone can call an occupation force.
...In contrast to London, Washington is sending 21,500 more troops to Iraq as part of Bush's new strategy. There are currently more than 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq....
...Army Desert Hawk's are being progressively upgraded to Desert Hawk III configuration
The British Army is to field the Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk III UAV in Iraq from next month as part of a transition to the more advanced variant from existing Desert Hawk 1+ aircraft.
The service has also confirmed that it experienced a near-miss incident involving a Desert Hawk and one of its Boeing CH-47 helicopters on 9 November last year.
Designed for "close range, beyond-the-next hill, counter-terror missions," the Skylark can be operated by a single soldier, covering a range of seven miles day or night, said the company. According to the statement, the Skylark can be used for both military and homeland security applications. During last summer's war in Lebanon, Skylark mini-UAVs were operated by IDF units in reconnaissance missions in support of the ground forces....
