CNN: UK move inflames debate on Bush troop increase

[Kadie]

UK move inflames debate on Bush troop increase
POSTED: 1:11 p.m. EST, February 21, 2007

Story Highlights
• PM Blair says UK to withdraw 1,600 troops from Iraq in coming months
• White House: UK move shows "progress in Basra"
• Pelosi: Move confirms Americans' doubts about Bush troop increase in Iraq
• Rice: "Coalition remains intact"; Kennedy: Britain decided to split with Bush


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The White House said Britain's announcement Wednesday to pull about 1,600 troops out of Iraq was proof of progress, while the top House Democrat said it "confirms doubts" about President Bush's plan to send more U.S. troops there.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said the move by British Prime Minister Tony Blair "indicates that there's been some progress in Basra," in southern Iraq, where UK troops are deployed. The reduction of troops would leave about 5,500 British troops still there.

snip...
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the Democratically controlled House, suggested that Blair's decision "confirms the doubts in the minds of the American people" about Bush's decision to increase U.S. forces in Iraq by more than 21,000.

"Why are thousands of additional American troops being sent to Iraq at the same time that British troops are planning to leave?" the California Democrat said in a written statement.

snip...
On the other side of Capitol Hill, Sen. Edward Kennedy called Blair's announcement "a stunning rejection of President Bush's high risk Iraq policy."

"No matter how the White House tries to spin it, the British government has decided to split with President Bush and begin to move their troops out of Iraq," Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, said.

more...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/02/21/us.iraq.uk/index.html?section=cnn_latest

[babylonsister]

1. I'm glad to see the Dems jumping all over this! nt

[Atman]

2. BULLSHIT, Georgie

If there was such "success" going on, why isn't the UK moving those troops up to Baghdad to help out the "coalition?" Do you White House guys even lie in your fucking sleep???

.

[underpants]

3. DU'ers were already asking the very same thing

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2739394