Breaking: Brown Announces Half Of Brits To Leave Iraq
LONDON — Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Monday Britain will make a major troop withdrawal from Iraq next year, cutting its contingent starting in the spring to 2,500 soldiers.
Brown told lawmakers the plan follows discussions with the Iraqi government and progress on the ground in the southern sector of Iraq.
Britain has around 5,000 troops based mainly at an air base camp on the fringe of the southern city of Basra.
“We plan from next spring, to reduce force numbers in southern Iraq to a figure of 2,500,” Brown said in a statement. A decision on further cuts would be made once that reduction is complete, he told lawmakers.
Iraqi forces will take control of security in the southern province of Basra within two months, ending Britain’s combat role in the country.
“We plan to move to a second stage of overwatch, where the coalition would maintain a more limited re-intervention capacity and where the main focus will be on training and mentoring,” Brown said.
Around 500 British logistics and support staff will be moved outside Iraq, but in the Middle East region, to support the remaining troops, Brown said. Officials said they are likely to be based in Kuwait.
Iraqi interpreters or civilian staff employed by British forces for more than 12 months will be given financial aid to resettle, leave the country or be cleared “in agreed circumstances, for admission to the U.K.,” Brown said.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
Brown is a horrible weasel of a man without an ounce of courage who would do anything to try to stay in power for the sake of being in charge. He’s the worst thing thats happened to the British army in a long long time and is no friend of our military. If he visited my unit I’d quite happily accept any punishment for the priviledge of punching his light out.
October 8th, 2007 at 8:49 amRant over. Sorry, he makes me sick. What was the story about? I stopped reading at ‘Brown…’
Cut and run, may your jihadis smile and not burn down your country, well at least they might spare a little of quaint ole England for future generations to look at.
My wife is first generation Polish — Her parents immigrated pre-WWII in the 30s, she says Poland is becoming America’s new best friend. The Poles appreciate freedom after living under the boot of a tyrant it clears your mind. Socialists are just a slow boiling frog.
October 8th, 2007 at 8:58 amI’m sorry. Did the French trade places with the Brits while I was sleeping?
What a dumb ass Brown is.
October 8th, 2007 at 9:08 am