Tensions in Basra

Apparently two British soldiers were arrested yesterday in Basra for allegedly shooting at policemen (maybe they had good reason) and ended up in the hands of Shia militants. (Although, there does seem to be slightly differing accounts about what exactly happened, but isn't there always)

Dramatic stuff
All hell broke loose as tanks, armoured vehicles, and helicopters descended upon the police station where they had been held. But the soliders were no longer being held there (according to the Times and the BBC) and had been handed over to Shia militia. No doubt those at the police station quickly decided it was in their best interests to co-operate with people who had just come crashing through the walls in their tanks (it was an accident says the MOD and the mass escape of prisoners wasn't part of the plan) and they generously gave them information which led to the rescue operation being successfully completed at a nearby house just a few hours after the soliders had been seized.

Whilst all this was going on an angry mob saw an opportunity to express themselves by throwing petrol bombs at the armoured vehicles, with their occupants having to make a swift exit. (as is clearly evident in the above picture) and the video footage.

The Telegraph
Troops free SAS men from jail

I am always amused by the BBC and its habit of not publishing little facts that other news sources do. Nowhere on the page of the BBC article do they mention that the soldiers were special forces. The nearest they get to this is in a caption under a picture of the soliders whilst in captivity where it says "British officials would not say if the two men were working undercover"
A good clue might be in the fact that the MOD requested the media to conceal their identities.

We might be in an age where news arrives on our screens within minutes (or as it's happpening) but there are still times that you can find crucial little facts published, dare i say, in the Sun, many hours, or even days before the BBC touches them. The SAS example maybe minor in the grand scheme of things, but many more obvious examples are commonplace. The BBC isn't always so backward with delivering details, though, which brings me on neatly to my next post.

Not so neatly as i'd like, as i haven't written it yet.