Basra attack echoes SAS actions in North [Ireland]

dailyireland: Sinister covert operations by British forces in Iraq are "reminscent of the activities of the SAS" in the North, a leading human rights campaigner said last night.
Paul O'Connor, of the Derry-based Pat Finucane Centre (PFC), demanded that the British government "break the cycle of abuse" imposed by its forces.
He also questioned the "sheepish" decision by large sections of the media to "report the MOD line as established fact".
Mr O'Connor was speaking to Daily Ireland after further details emerged about an incident in Basra on Monday afternoon involving undercover British operatives.
The incident drew parallels with the March 1988 attack on the funeral of IRA volunteer Caoimhghin Mac Bradaigh.
During that incident, two armed and undercover army intelligence operatives drove directly at the cortege in west Belfast. After firing a shot, both soldiers were subsequently captured, beaten and shot dead by the IRA.
In Monday's incident, both undercover soldiers are reported to have opened fire after being stopped and challenged by Iraqi police. An Iraqi policeman was shot dead, but the undercover soldiers were overpowered and held in an Iraqi jail.
However, a major British Army operation then commenced to break the men out of prison. The operation involved the perimeter wall of the jail being destroyed by a British tank. During the assault, British forces came under sustained attacks from local people using petrol bombs and rocks. Nevertheless, both British covert operatives were successfully recovered.
Many commentators have noted the similarity between the activities of British forces in Iraq in recent years with British actions in Ireland over the past three decades. Read more