Those are old figures from before the war or at the start it was a "pledge" figure it's not even a quarter of that.. as of May of this year the total UK troop commitment was 8400. It's still not a token amount though. Even against the US forces of fifteen times that. Most other countries were though.. besides one or two stand outs at the couple or several thousand level it's a hodge podge of 100 troops here, 200 de-miners there, 100 police here..

The US is currently making a big deal about Austarlia withdrawng it's current 250 troops from air traffic ontrol and other non-action duties as if the Iraqi's would miss 250 aussies helping out the US in contracter roles.

250 professionals can very well be missed and I assume they are professionals. Let me give you a factual senario...a 12 man Army Special Forces team...is qualified to train...and command 800 local combat personell. So you can see that to replace 250 Army Special Forces personell could reduce your force multiplier by 16,000 combatants.

You are an uneducated idiotic parrot!

research about the no fly zone ( or even read if you can a few posts higher ) and you will find out that it newver was a UN measure.

It was US/UK using their multi million $$$ planes ( lol ) to attack Irak.

Read, comprehend and stop being a parrot!

:2 cents:

Normally I would agree if these were the special forces.. but they are not some of them are literally the guys waving the pingpong bats around on aircraft carriers.

The rest that are guarding officials will be replaced with contractors if they are withdrawn.

No. Just look up Operation Telic.

The British Defence Secretary outlined on 7 and 20 January, and 6 February the deployment of substantial maritime, land and air packages to provide a broad range of military capabilities for potential operations against Iraq. Overall, some 45,000 personnel are involved.

Naval Task Group 2003, which had long been planned to deploy via the Mediterranean and Gulf en route to the Far East for participation in Exercise Flying Fish, was augmented to provide a significant maritime and amphibious capability. The Task Group comprises:

* HMS Ark Royal (aircraft carrier)
* HMS Ocean (helicopter carrier)
* HMS Liverpool (Type 42 destroyer)
* HMS Edinburgh (Type 42 destroyer)
* HMS York (Type 42 destroyer)
* HMS Marlborough (Type 23 frigate)
* HMS Richmond (Type 23 frigate)
* HMS Grimsby (mine-hunter)
* HMS Ledbury (mine-hunter)
* RFA Argus (hospital ship)
* RFA Sir Tristram
* RFA Sir Galahad
* RFA Sir Percivale
* RFA Fort Victoria
* RFA Fort Rosalie
* RFA Fort Austin
* RFA Orangeleaf
* HMS Splendid

The amphibious force numbered some 4,000 and included:

* HQ 3 Commando Brigade
* 40 Commando Royal Marines
* 42 Commando Royal Marines
* Helicopter air groups aboard Ark Royal and Ocean

Some 14 other Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels have also involved in the operation, including:

* HMS Chatham (Type 22 frigate)
* HMS Turbulent
* HMS Brocklesby (mine-hunter)
* HMS Blyth (mine-hunter)
* HMS Bangor (mine-hunter)
* HMS Ramsey (mine-hunter)
* HMS Shoreham (mine-hunter)
* HMS Sandown (mine-hunter)
* HMS Roebuck (survey ship)
* RFA Sir Bedivere
* RFA Bayleaf
* RFA Brambleleaf
* RFA Grey Rover
* RFA Diligence
* RFA Sea Crusader

The land force numbers some 26,000. The primary units deployed in whole or in part include:

1(UK) Armoured Division:

* Headquarters and 1 Armoured Division Signal Regiment
* 30 Signal Regiment (strategic communications)
* The Queen's Dragoon Guards (reconnaissance)
* 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (additional infantry capability)
* 28 Engineer Regiment
* 1 General Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
* 2 Close Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
* 2nd Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
* 1 Close Support Medical Regiment
* 5 General Support Medical Regiment
* 1 Regiment, Royal Military Police
* plus elements from various units including:
o 33 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment
o 30 Signal Regiment
o 32 Regiment Royal Artillery (Phoenix UAVs)

7th Armoured Brigade:

* Headquarters and Signal Squadron
* Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Challenger 2 tanks)
* 2nd Royal Tank Regiment (Challenger 2 tanks)
* 1st Battalion The Black Watch (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)
* 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)
* 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (AS90 self-propelled guns)
* 32 Armoured Engineer Regiment
* plus elements from various units including:
o Queen's Royal Lancers (Challenger 2 tanks)
o 1st Battalion Irish Guards (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)
o 1st Battalion The Light Infantry (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles) (withdrawal announced 30 April)
o 26 Regiment Royal Artillery
o 38 Engineer Regiment

16 Air Assault Brigade:

* Headquarters and Signal Squadron
* 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment
* 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment
* 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment
* 7 (Para) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (105mm Light Guns)
* 23 Engineer Regiment
* Household Cavalry Regiment (1 x armoured reconnaissance squadron)
* 3rd Regiment Army Air Corps (Lynx & Gazelle helicopters)
* 7 Air Assault Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
* 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
* 16 Close Support Medical Regiment
* 156 Provost Company RMP

102 Logistics Brigade:

* Headquarters
* 2 Signal Regiment
* 36 Engineer Regiment
* 33 Field Hospital
* 34 Field Hospital
* 202 Field Hospital (Volunteer)
* 4 General Support Medical Regiment
* 3 Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
* 6 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
* 7 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
* 17 Port & Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
* 23 Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
* 24 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
* 5 Regiment, Royal Military Police
* specialist Royal Engineer teams
* airfield engineer support units from 12 Engineer Brigade
* elements from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment
* elements from additional Royal Logistic Corps Regiments

The air component deployed on Operation Telic numbers about 100 fixed-wing aircraft and 27 support helicopters, supported by some 7,000 personnel. Aircraft types involved include:

* Sentry AEW1 command & control aircraft (from 8 and 23 Sqns)
* Tornado GR4 bomber/reconnaissance aircraft (from 2, 9, 12, 31 and 617 Sqns)
* Jaguar GR3 attack/reconnaissance aircraft (from 6, 41 and 54 Sqns)
* Harrier GR7 attack aircraft (from 1, 3 and 4 Sqns)
* Tornado F3 air defence aircraft (from 43 and 111 Sqns)
* VC-10 tanker aircraft (from 10 and 101 Sqns)
* Tristar tanker aircraft (from 216 Sqn)
* C-17 transport aircraft (from 99 Sqn)
* Hercules transport aircraft (from 24, 30, 47 and 70 Sqns)
* Nimrod aircraft (from 51, 120, 201 and 206 Sqn)
* Canberra PR9 reconnaissance aircraft (from 39 (1PRU) Sqn)
* Chinook helicopters (from 7, 18 and 27 Sqns)
* Puma helicopters (from 33 Sqn)

RAF Regiment units provide ground defence for the force. The Army's 21 Signal Regiment provides communications support for the Joint Helicopter Force.

SOURCE:
http://www.operations.mod.uk/telic/forces_archive.htm

well um.. we're the ones that invaded and took over their country.. i think it's safe to say we're winning the pointless war