A SOLDIER on leave from Iraq has spoken of the "living hell" of serving in the Gulf.
Fusilier Lawrence Buckley, said the Iraq situation, with more than 100 British military personnel killed and the country slipping towards civil war, was turning into "another Northern Ireland".
Lawrence, 19, pictured above left, who is staying with his father Christopher in Newhey, near Rochdale, claimed most of the troops thought it was pointless being out there.
In a frank interview Lawrence, who is serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, said: "Iraq is hell. It is a horrible place.
Rocket
"I drive a Warrior armoured vehicle and go out on patrol regularly. It is frightening and we have been under rocket attack twice. Fortunately, it was not accurate fire.
"Part of the population don't want us there, most don't even care about our presence and some are hostile. I feel it is pointless us being there.
"We are supposed to be out there training the Iraqis to take over the situation, but nine-tenths of them don't want to know and the police force they have got is corrupt."
Lawrence added: "I can see it becoming another Northern Ireland."
His tour of duty ends in May, with his battalion being transferred to Germany.
Rubbish
"I don't want to go back to Iraq, but it is a job at the end of the day and they pay my wages," he said.
"The people of Iraq don't seem to have any value for life. They just exist and the place stinks, with rubbish and dead animal carcasses all over the place."
Lawrence, a former pupil of St Thomas's CE Primary and Hollingworth High, said the troops in his battalion were living in relative comfort in eight-man tents, sleeping on proper bed mattresses.
There were "proper" showers and toilets and there was a NAAFI shop and Pizza Hut on site. He said the authorities were doing their best to make conditions comfortable.
He arrived home to see his dad last week and together they have been visiting relatives in Dublin.
Lawrence said: "It has been very good to chill out with dad. We are more like friends than father and son."
Showing comments 1 to 13 and replies | View All
Richard, Salford, Lancs. (11/03/2006 at 12:54)
PW, Manchester (11/03/2006 at 13:27)
pete, sydney australia (11/03/2006 at 22:12)
Blair has a lot to answer for as does the australian prime minister.
How could they follow a 'Cowboy' like Bush? I am sure that they wish that they had never heard of Iraq.However they are not the ones who pay the ultimate price unfortunately. If they were in the firing line the withdrawal from Iraq would be swift & without hesitation.
Mark Thompson, Vancouver, Canada (12/03/2006 at 09:55)
Again, thanks for keeping up the freedom of the press.
Knowitall, Stockport (12/03/2006 at 19:02)
Ex 3 Para, Manchester (13/03/2006 at 09:15)
Mikey, Leeds (13/03/2006 at 11:11)
Ms D, Manchester (13/03/2006 at 11:48)
Chris, London (13/03/2006 at 15:04)
Mr Bob, Denver (13/03/2006 at 15:38)
Probably because most of them in our unit are soldiers who understand that war is hell and that people in the countries we help have a long way to go to catch up to civilized society. I suggest this soldier (i use the term loosely) go work at the grocery store when he gets back and give up on being in the Army. He obviously thought it was supposed to be like club med.
99% of the soldiers who come back are proud of the work they've done and believe it we are doing the right thing by being there. That is why this is news. War is hell, that is why they get medals.
Ex 3 Para, Manchester (14/03/2006 at 08:31)
Richard, Salford, Lancs. (14/03/2006 at 18:41)
ME, MANCHESTER (15/03/2006 at 22:50)