Blair ‘to announce Iraq pull-out’
Some 3,000 British soldiers expected home by the end of 2007, reports say.
Your Views |
“Has any of the Bush Iraq plans worked other than causing the worst destruction?” Advertisement
Zaffar Zohair, Islamabad, Pakistan |
Josh Rushing, Al Jazeera’s military analyst, said the British move could cause problems for the Bush administration which is trying to argue for an escalation in US troops in Iraq when its main ally seems to be pulling out.
Britain in Iraq |
Peak of 46,000 UK troops deployed for 2003 invasion
Advertisement
Some 7,100 still serving in Iraq, several hundred others on ships in Gulf
Advertisement
132 UK soldiers have died in Iraq since 2003
Advertisement
British operations in Iraq under codenamed Operation TELIC
Advertisement
Troops largely deployed in southern Iraq mainly based in Basra, small number also based in Baghdad
Advertisement
10 soldiers killed in aircraft crash in early 2005, single largest loss of life for British troops
Advertisement
Advertisement
Total cost to UK of Iraq war to date: about $7.8 bn |
Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the Bush’s administration’s National Security Council, said Blair had informed Bush of his plans to withdraw troops on Tuesday morning.
“The British have always wanted to get out … but they’ll be putting a masssive effort into continuing the training and the training will continue I expect long after the British soldiers have come of the Iraqi streets.
“The British can’t withdraw until they feel the Iraqi armed forces are in a position to do the job without support.”