White House Retaliates Against UK For Withdrawal: ‘British Forces Have Performed Poorly’ In Iraq

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/03/white-house-britain-iraq/


White House Retaliates Against UK For Withdrawal: ‘British Forces Have Performed Poorly’ In Iraq


This week, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that he would reduce British presence in Iraq from 5,500 troops to 4,500 by Christmas. The Guardian reports today that Brown will cut “significantly more than the 1,000 announced yesterday” by next year.

In response to the withdrawal announcement, the White House has decided to slander Britain. The London Telegraph reports today that a senior White House official has revoked Britain’s status of being “the closest Bush ally“:

“There’s concern about Brown,” a senior White House foreign policy official told The Daily Telegraph. “But this is compensated by the fact that Paris and Berlin are much less of a headache. The need to hinge everything on London as the guarantor of European security has gone.”

The White House official added that Britain would always be “the cornerstone” of US policy towards Europe but there was “a lot of unhappiness” about how British forces had performed in Basra and an acceptance that Mr Brown would pull the remaining 4,500 troops out of Iraq next year.

“Operationally, British forces have performed poorly in Basra,” said the official. “Maybe it’s best that they leave. Now we will have a clear field in southern Iraq.”

When Britain’s future in Iraq was up for debate, however, the White House showered praise on the new Prime Minister. “I found a person who shares vision and who understands the call,” President Bush said of Gordon Brown in July. “You’ve proved your worthiness as a leader, and I thank you for that.”

The White House has also praised the work of British troops. “hey had made progress in southern Iraq,” said Vice President Cheney in February.

A British diplomatic source elaborated on Bush’s new distance from Britain. “In the White House there’s a sense of enormous change from Blair. They used to be on the phone to Blair all the time and that’s no longer the case because Brown clearly wants to be the unBlair,” the source said.

[annabanana]

1. Why must this administration ALWAYS react like

a spiteful 12 year old?

[Spinzonner]

3. It's as mature as they can get

given the material they have to work with

[antonialee839]

8. Because Bush IS a spiteful

12 year old.

[TomInTib]

2. “I found a person who shares vision and who understands the call,”

Oh, give us a fucking break, you narcissistic little man (and I use the word "man" in its loosest definition).

[Kagemusha]

4. It's for the best, petulant and petty as the words are.

Let another illusion die.

[AlCzervik]

5. classy as usual.

[Strelnikov_]

6. "Now we will have a clear field in southern Iraq"

Into which The Fuhrer . . err . . . Maximum Leader Chimpus . . . oops 'The President' will pour imaginary legions into.

They really are delusional. The only thing the Italians . . . oops wrong war . . . Brits leaving does is open our southern flank.

[tomg]

7. I spend a lot of time in the UK.

and one of my good friend's husbands just returned from Basra. Whatever support and good will the American government might have had with the British people is shot to shit with this comment. That official's comments are the most insulting, disrespectful, condescending thing I have heard. It shows such a lack of awareness that I am amazed. The average Brit is going to go ballistic, as well she or he should.

[Monk06]

9. Not surprising. Bush has always had a hand full of gimme and a mouthful of much obliged.

When Canada pulls out of Afghanistan we'll be
the next ally kicked to the curb by this petulant
piss ant war monger.

[partylessinOhio]

10. Well, isn't this a kick in the ass!

Tell the spouses and parents of the dead Brits that “Maybe it’s best that they leave." Maybe Bush/Cheney should have let them all leave alive.

What greater shame can this Impostor bring down upon us?

Edit to add:

170 from the UK have died in the Iraq War.

:patriot:

[MiniMe]

11. Oh, for a return to diplomacy

I'm tired of this "agree with me or you are a piece of shit" attitude.

Perhaps George should write a book, how to win friends and influence people.

[Supersedeas]

12. the poodle is back-stabbed---wonder if he even cares??