The British assault on Basra has been patient and methodical.

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Reports of sexual assault and even gang rape have been recorded across India, including a British tourist jumping off her balcony in Agra in March to escape potential assault from a hotel owner.

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Having read every eyewitness account of what happened there in 1775 that I could find when writing a book about America's war of independence, I would argue that there is pretty good evidence that the locals fired first - albeit when the British redcoats were running towards them, intent upon assault.

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Altogether, some 7, 500 Afghan, U.S. and British troops were expected to take part in the main assault and another 7, 500 were deployed in support of the offensive across the surrounding district.

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Still, the nature of the deployment gives some clues as to what British soldiers might actually do on the ground. 16 Air Assault Brigade will provide the sort of troops who might descend on northern Iraq from Turkey, assuming that the current diplomatic whirl yields Turkish co-operation.

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But most of the 4, 000 British soldiers remained in their base, played no part in the assault during its crucial first week and did none of the fighting.

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He has skydived in aid of British soldiers' families, fasted in sympathy with victims of the Israeli assault on Lebanon in 2006, chided the BBC for being soft on Islam and torn up his dog-collar in protest against atrocities in Zimbabwe.

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In his motion, Mr Henry was concerned that in the last 12 months incidents of violence and verbal assault against retail staff have increased by 83%, as recorded by the British Retail Consortium's Annual Retail Crime Survey.

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The British soldiers will include units from 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, 3 Commando Brigade, 16 Air Assault Brigade and 45 Commando Royal Marines.

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