I like it that the British government, in explaining the presence of its frigate in Shat Al-`Arab, said that the sailors and marines were on "a routine mission." Routine mission in the Gulf? You belong there? But the best defense of the presence of UK occupation troops was provided by the leftist Guardian: "The frigate HMS Cornwall is on patrol as the lead ship of Combined Task Force 158, whose UN-backed mission is to protect Iraq's oil platforms and exports against pirates, smugglers, and terrorists." How nice of them. I mean, people are being killed in Iraq, and the British troops found the time to protect oil facilities. How kind of them and thoughtful. So I wonder: can Lebanese or Egyptian troops protect British oil facilities too?