Just yesterday, "UK seeks to free troops for Afghanistan"

[cyberpj]

UK seeks to free troops for Afghanistan
Richard Norton-Taylor
Wednesday July 6, 2005
The Guardian

Military commanders are making plans for a major cutback in the number of British forces in Iraq as they prepare to take over responsibility for security in Afghanistan which, they say, the US wants to leave as soon as possible.

The plans signal what will be the most important shift in British military operations since the invasion of Iraq. Senior commanders are making remarkably optimistic noises about progress in building up Iraqi security forces in the south-eastern provinces under British control.

They say the number of British troops in Iraq could be cut to fewer than 2,000 over the next 12 to 18 months. There are some 9,000 there now. That would make it much easier for Britain to meet its commitment to take over the lead Nato role in Afghanistan from next May.

(big snip)
British officials say the US no longer has an interest in Afghanistan, including the opium crop, 90% of which ends up as heroin on the streets of Europe and not America.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,1284,1522222,00.html

[chalky]

1. That's the first thing that popped into my head when I heard about

the explosion.
Coincidence? :shrug:

[cyberpj]

2. And how do you like it that Rudy G. just happened to be in London

when this happened?

[meganmonkey]

3. I imagine the bombing plan has been in the works for a while though...

:shrug:

[chalky]

4. Yeah, but who did the planning?

n/t