UK NEWS

PLAN TO PULL OUR BOYS OUT OF IRAQ WITHIN ONE YEAR

Soldiers from the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery involved in Operation Romulous in Iraq

Monday June 4,2007

By Macer Hall, Political Editor

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(4)

A PLAN to withdraw British troops from Iraq within a year will be presented to Gordon Brown soon, Whitehall sources claimed yesterday.

Military commanders are drawing up a unilateral timetable for bringing all UK Armed Forces personnel home from the war-torn Arab nation, insiders claim.

And the strategy document will be presented to the new Prime Minister soon after his takeover at No 10, scheduled for June 27.

The move follows months of bloodshed in Iraq, with senior officers admitting the presence of British forces is now exacerbating violence.

It is understood that Ministry of Defence chiefs believe the Army is over-stretched by deployments in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

They believe concentrating efforts on the war against the Taliban is more likely to bring results.

Last night, military chiefs insisted the plan was among a number of options for the future of British forces in Iraq.

Tony Blair has repeatedly vowed that Britain will stay in Iraq until “the job is done”, with the elected Iraqi government requesting continued Western military assistance against the terrorist insurgency.

But the outgoing Prime Minister is known to be frustrated that about 7,000 British personnel are still in Iraq, largely based around Basra.

British plans to “accelerate withdrawal” will dismay US military commanders, but pulling out of Iraq would be an undoubted boost for Mr Brown early in his premiership.

However, the Chancellor is being careful not to be tied into any timetable or risk further angering US commanders.

All decisions on troop deployment will continue to be made according to our operational objectives

A source close to Mr Brown

A source close to Mr Brown said: “Gordon has made clear that we will continue to meet our commitments to our allies and to the Iraqi people.

“All decisions on troop deployment will continue to be made according to our operational objectives – not political timetables.”

Last October General Sir Richard Dannatt, the Chief of the Defence Staff, said Britain should withdraw troops “some time soon” because their “presence exacerbates the security problems”.

According to reports yesterday, a British senior military official said: “Britain is not physically capable of fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq at the same time.

“The question is which do we give up? The Government and the defence chiefs have decided that we should give up Iraq.

“There is an agreed timetable, a glide path, which will see a complete unilateral withdrawal in 12 months.”

The official added: “There is a belief within the Ministry of Defence and Government that success is easier to measure in Afghanistan and that makes it more attractive.

“Though it is clear to many in the US and the British Armed Forces that Iraq is strategically far more important than Afghanistan, there is no popular support for the war in Iraq.” Since the war began, 149 British personnel have been killed in Iraq and hundreds more injured.

PLAN TO PULL OUR BOYS OUT OF IRAQ WITHIN ONE YEAR

05.06.07, 5:24pm

don't believe everything that is being told. all politicians are a load of liars, they are not bothered who gets killed or maimed, in it for the policital creedence it gives. not save young lads lives when its not our war, so pleased my son came out the RAF after 13 years. i can sleep at night for 13 years i worried. not any more.

• Posted by: netts • Report Comment

PLAN TO PULL OUR BOYS OUT OF IRAQ WITHIN ONE YEAR

05.06.07, 5:24pm

• Posted by: netts • Report Comment

BRING THEM HOME TODAY!

04.06.07, 8:43pm

The instability created in Iraq by removing a dictator that ruled by fear will last for many years, the power struggle is like a pack of dogs as long as BUSH and BLIAR play at being alpha & beta dogs the rest will wait in the wings!

They may pick off a few thousand innocent victims whilst they do so but installing an alpha dog will no doubt lead to civil war.

People are dying and this once proud nation will not be dictated to by a madman and his puppet whenever we leave the fighting will begin, why do we wait another few years to allow both sides to regroup and re arm!

THIS WILL AFTER ALL ENSURE THE MAXIMUM CASUALTIES MOST WHO WILL BE INNOCENT!

• Posted by: The_Way_I_See_It • Report Comment

IRAQ

04.06.07, 1:40pm

I would be grateful is someoe from the government could explain what good are troops are doing in Iraq. They seem to be there merely to give the Iraq government some credibility.
It seems they are continually attacked in their base by mortars, and shot at as soon as they go out of the gate.
The original purpose was to support the local army, and help with reconstruction. The local army seem to as corrupt as Saddam's and everything they construct is promply blown up.
.

• Posted by: exnomad • Report Comment