Surprize, Gomer: Bush ignored Brit advice on Iraq occupation

Prince Andrew, who did serve in the RAF:

The Duke of York has criticised the US administration for failing to listen to advice from Britain on how to avoid problems following the war in Iraq.

Prince Andrew said the war had led to a "healthy scepticism" in Britain towards what was said in Washington.

The duke made the comments in an interview with the International Herald Tribune ahead of a 10-day trip to promote British business in the US.

He said the US should have learned lessons from British colonial history.

The duke, who is fourth in line to the throne, told the newspaper there was feeling in Britain of "why didn't anyone listen to what was said and the advice that was given?".

And so here we are, 1,742 days since Bush declared "Mission accomplished", with this still happening:

A week after the 3rd Brigade Combat Team lost five soldiers in an insurgent attack, the Pentagon said Monday that a sixth soldier in the Fort Carson unit had died in Mosul, Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Chad A. Barrett, 35, of Saltville, Va., died Saturday as a result of a noncombatrelated incident. No details about his death, which is under investigation, were released by the Army.

He was assigned to the 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

Barrett is the 233rd Fort Carson soldier and the 29th in the 3rd Brigade to die in Iraq since the war began in 2003.

Barrett had been in Army since August 1996, and joined the 3rd Brigade Combat Team in February 2005, according to Fort Carson. The post said he was on his second deployment in Iraq.