US agrees further British withdrawal from Iraq

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Guardian Unlimited

Britain is poised to announce significant cuts in the number of troops in southern Iraq following an upbeat assessment by US and British military officials in London yesterday.

This was the message from defence officials last night following talks between ministers and General David Petraeus, the American military commander in Iraq.

Amid concern about the mounting tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iraq and nuclear issues, Gen Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Baghdad, also kept up the pressure on Iran, saying its repeated calls for dialogue with the US were irrelevant as long as it continued supporting Iraqi militias and played what Mr Crocker called a "lethal and damaging" role.

The Guardian understands an announcement on further cuts in British troops could be made as early as October 8 when Gordon Brown is due to make a statement to MPs when the Commons returns after its summer break. A reduction of 500 troops out of a total of 5,500 has already been announced.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2172219,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12

[ewoden]

1. Britain will be urged to fortify border

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/britain-will-be-urged-to-fortify-border/2007/09/16/1189881340905.html

General David Petraeus will press Britain's Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to have more British troops patrol Iraq's border with Iran when the men meet this week.

But British commanders fear the move could embroil Britain in a war with Iran at a time when they want to withdraw from Iraq. An adviser to the Pentagon said General Petraeus would use the meeting to tell Mr Brown Iran is stepping up supply of weapons and the training of insurgents.

"He will present the argument that some British forces now being withdrawn from Basra should be transferred to the border security mission."

[rodeodance]

3. Lets see if Brown is a the new poodle!!

[rodeodance]

2. "US agrees" strange headline.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

4. Don't you know the British are going to love that

After all, it's not as if they've been trying to get out for the past year. Little did they know all they were waiting on was for the US to "agree" to let them.

[cliss]

5. England has a few "problems" at home.

Just 2 days ago, England had a run on its bank, Northern Rock bank. Seems customers didn't have much faith in the bank's strength.

The Bank of England moved in quickly, infused the bank with ??? how much cash? Now the Bank of England is the proud owner of a largely worthless portfolio of subprime mortgages.

They do NOT have the money to keep fighting in Iraq. There's not much the US can say about it, at this point.

[AndyTiedye]

8. Neither Do We

They do NOT have the money to keep fighting in Iraq.

[spag68]

6. Patrol the border

Why do we need the Brits or any one else to patrol the border? We have spent billions for these remote unmanned planes and satellites that can count your nose hairs, infrared cameras for the night, and all manner of stuff we don't even know about. how about getting everyone out and just using these thing to keep an eye on things. When the Iraqi people get it settled we can help them rebuild. Blackrock is the first we should kick out of the place, then prosecute all the money people that are skimming the money. when they roll over we can get the pols. that allowed them to do it, if there is anyone left in congress after that, throw them out too and elect a new bunch.

[Up2Late]

7. I think by far, that 3rd paragraph is the most scary!

"...Amid concern about the mounting tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iraq and nuclear issues, Gen Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Baghdad, also kept up the pressure on Iran, saying its repeated calls for dialogue with the US were irrelevant as long as it continued supporting Iraqi militias and played what Mr Crocker called a "lethal and damaging" role....":banghead:

[Eugene]

9. Schedule for UK pull-back from Iraq takes shape

Source: Reuters

Schedule for UK pull-back from Iraq takes shape
19 Sep 2007 11:40:48 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Luke Baker

LONDON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Britain has no fixed
timetable for withdrawing its 5,500 troops from Iraq
but a rough schedule for drawing down numbers is
emerging amid high-level negotiations with Washington
over policy.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown held talks with General
David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq,
on Tuesday and is due to make a statement on Iraq to
parliament early next month when his strategy is
likely to be further fleshed out. With no serious
increase in violence in Basra since Britain pulled
500 soldiers out of the city centre two weeks ago --
moving them to the airport on the city outskirts --
a 10 percent drawdown of troops will happen in the
next six weeks.

"We're looking to reduce numbers in Basra by 500 by
November," a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence
said on Wednesday, saying the reduction would take
place as part of the regular rotation of troops.

-snip-

Once the handover is complete, Britain's remaining
5,000 troops would be on "overwatch", meaning they
would mostly be responsible for training Iraqi forces
and would "go offensive" only if there was a serious
breakdown in security. They would also continue to
protect supply routes in southern Iraq.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1983008.htm