Britain says to withdraw 500 Iraq troops in weeks

[Barrett808]

Source: Reuters

LONDON, July 16 (Reuters) - Britain expects to withdraw 500 of its 5,500 troops from southern Iraq within weeks and will then assess how soon it can remove the remainder of its forces, Defence Secretary Des Browne said on Monday.

"We've got to the point where we presently have 5,500 troops in Iraq and if, as we expect to do, within a matter of weeks manage to hand over the Basra Palace to the security control of the Iraqis, we'll be able to draw down a further 500," Browne told parliament.

"At that stage we will make an assessment of the ability of the Iraqi security forces in consultation with our allies -- and principally with our principle ally the United States of America -- about our ability to move from there to the point where we can withdraw our forces," he said.

British troops have been deployed mainly in the southern province of Basra, which has a city by the same name and is home to southern Iraq's oil industry.

Read more: http://wap.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L16419966.htm

[HereSince1628]

1. Looks like John Bull is making friends with the chocolate eaters.

It's time for Patriot Taffey, Freedom Walnuts.

[ClintonTyree]

2. Looks like Bush's good pals, the Brits....

aren't on the same page concerning Bush's manly "surge" in Iraq. One is surging, one is pulling out. Now, which one is smarter? Which one has learned from their mistakes and which one is doomed to repeat them, over and over again?

The allotted time to answer these questions is 1 second. No copying from your neighbors paper. ;) Ready?.........BEGIN!

[TexasLawyer]

3. Brits now down very significantly from 45,000 original invasion force

and U.S. forces are up. Wish we could withdraw too!


Invasion force

Approximately 120,000 Soldiers and Marines from the United States, and 45,000 from the United Kingdom, as well as smaller forces from three other nations (including Australia), collectively called the "Coalition of the Willing", were deployed prior to the invasion primarily to several staging areas in Kuwait. When naval, logistics, intelligence, and air force personnel are included, the invasion force was approximately 248,000 American, 45,000 British, 2,000 Australians, 300 Danish, and 200 Polish (commando squad GROM) personnel.

Of those troops, all but the American, British and the Polish commando squad were kept close to bases and required to avoid hostile engagements. The invasion force was also supported by Iraqi Kurdish militia troops, estimated to number upwards of 50,000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_invasion_of_Iraq