Britain not sending any more troops to Iraq: report

[cthrumatrix]

Britain not sending any more troops to Iraq: report




LONDON (AFP) - Britain's government has bowed to domestic public concerns by declining to send any more troops to Iraq (news - web sites), and will instead reinforce NATO (news - web sites) operations in Afghanistan (news - web sites), a British news station reported.

Britain had been considering sending up to 3,000 extra troops to Iraq to replace departed Spanish and Polish forces, and had been due to extend operations beyond their current base in the southern city of Basra, BBC television's Newsnight programme said.


Part of this deployment would have involved moving a major British-run NATO command post from Germany to Iraq, the report said.


However mounting concern from lawmakers in British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites)'s ruling Labour Party about how unpopular this would be with voters, still deeply sceptical about the war in Iraq, led to the plan being dropped.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1538&ncid=721&e=6&u=/afp/20040630/wl_uk_afp/iraq_afghanistan_britain

so much for the "coalition of the willing"

[cliss]

1. I don't understand.

I had read several months ago that Britain would pull its troops out on June 30. Not because they don't want to be there, but because the Royal funding was supposed to run out at the end of this month. Which meant that they couldn't participate any longer, whether they wanted to or not.

Hm.......now where is that Iraqi funding going again?

[Don_G]

2. More Good News

They may send some providing Dimbo relinquishes any and all control in Iraq to a coalition led by the UN.

Otherwise, every other country will pull out as soon as they can.

[struggle4progress]

11. Lots are making noise about leaving.

Iraq Looms Large in 4th District Primary
The Iraq war has become the biggest issue for six Democrats locked in a primary battle to succeed Denise Majette in the U.S. House.
<snip>
http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=48748

Cosgrove adds to Iraq pull-out debate
Replacing foreign troops in Iraq with local security forces would significantly reduce the level of violence, Defence Force chief Peter Cosgrove said yesterday.
<snip>
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/30/1088488027257.html

Thailand to start withdrawing troops from Iraq
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/newstories/RANewsStories_1144299.htm

Roh, Uri Sees Support Ebbing
Mishandling of Hostage Killing, Internal Dispute Big Factors
<snip>
The ruling camp’s pressing for the plan to send troops to Iraq despite the desperate plea by the hostage prompted the progressive forces to withdraw their support for Roh and his party.
<snip>
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200407/kt2004070116384011960.htm

Bulgaria may withdraw from Iraq
http://newsfromrussia.com/world/2004/06/28/54603.html

[uptown ruler]

3. lol

Spreading The Word
The Irony Curtain Shop

[grytpype]

4. earlier reports said they WOULD send more troops

[calimary]

5. Call it the "Coalition of the Wilting."

The Britain-Backs-Off Edition.

[Zhade]

6. "Coalition of the Wilting." That's GENIUS.

NT!

[gratuitous]

7. Swell, and guess who's left holding the bag?

Why all of us U.S. taxpayers! Hope you all weren't looking for another tax cut, and that you set aside some from the last one to pay for the "revenue enhancement" that will be coming soon.

[bpilgrim]

8. sure, blame it on PANDERING but what they really mean is MISERABLE FAILURE

and it spells DISASTER for our troops :argh:

peace

[R Hickey]

9. Rate this story a "5" - only a few people have rated this.

.

[PartyPooper]

10. This must be part of the reason the U.S. is calling up more "reserves".

The draft surely will be here by next summer.