UK might not meet troop cut promise

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

UK might not meet troop cut promise
By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Writer

LONDON - The British government may not meet its promise to slash troop levels in Iraq to 2,500 by the summer, defense officials indicated Tuesday.

A report, meanwhile, revealed that the cost for Britain of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan almost doubled in the last year to more than $6 billion.

In October, Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised to cut the number of British troops in Iraq to 2,500 — half the level at the time — starting in the spring. Officials said then that the cut would be completed by mid-2008.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Defense said officials hoped to reduce troop numbers — currently about 4,100 — "over the coming months," but gave no figure and no timetable.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080311/ap_on_re_eu/britain_war_costs

[smiley_glad_hands]

1. Gee, just six billion, huh? eom