Britain to cut troop levels in Iraq

[AmerDem]

Jason Burke, chief reporter
Sunday September 19, 2004
The Observer

The British Army is to start pulling troops out of Iraq next month despite the deteriorating security situation in much of the country, The Observer has learnt.

The main British combat force in Iraq, about 5,000-strong, will be reduced by around a third by the end of October during a routine rotation of units.

The news came amid another day of mayhem in Iraq, which saw a suicide bomber kill at least 23 people and injure 53 in the northern city of Kirkuk. The victims were queueing to join Iraq's National Guard.

More than 200 people were killed last week in one of the bloodiest weeks since last year's invasion, strengthening impressions that the country is spinning out of control.


http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1308007,00.html

[Eloriel]

1. Wild. Just wild.

Won't hear anything about that stateside, I bet.

[Deja Q]

2. Where's Poodle saying they need to stay and do the right thing?

Poodle wanted the war. He helped make the mess.

He needs to help clean it up.

Not abandon it like a filthy sow would do.

We cannot leave that country in a mess.

Nor can we act on it alone.

We need the UN to take complete control and put the US in its place for being so incredibly obtuse and pig-headed, while keeping our troops there to make sure they do only the right things. The world community will not accept anything less, that's for sure. Unless they say otherwise, in which case we damn well better listen.

[AmerDem]

4. i'm thinking this may be a sly way for the Brits to screw shrub

for election. I know many ( from reading) politicians over there want shrub out and Kerry in. If shrub loses troops from his strongest ally what does that say to Americans? shrub and his gang will do everything they can to spin this but right before the election is when everything will come crushing on him.

[Deja Q]

5. Brilliant observation/strategy. I hope people see it for what it means.

I can imagine what my devout * supporting co-worker would think. She still wouldn't figure out the truth, still staunchly support *, and start making jabs at Blair.

Still, she is but one person. Let's hope the majority sees Britain's act for what it is.

[Zorra]

3. Good for the Brits. Fewer dead soldiers killed in Bu$h's stupid war.

Time to bring our own troops home before any more of them die.

[Eric J in MN]

6. The article says there are only 8,000 British troops in Iraq to

start with.

I assumed it was much more.

[AmerDem]

9. I'm with ya on that

For what ever reason I assumed the Brits had 30,000 troop participating. shrub must be proud, his biggest ally sends 8,000 to our 125,000.


Pathetic!

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. I wonder..

Do you suppose our State Owned Media will report this BEFORE the election? IMCPO.....WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER!

[AmerDem]

8. not likely

If they do it will be a quick blip, then they will move on. This is major news and I haven't heard one mention of it on any corporate cable news.