Brown prepares for 'significant' troop withdrawal from Iraq

Brown prepares for 'significant' troop withdrawal from Iraq

news.independent.co.uk

Gordon Brown is preparing to announce the withdrawal of a substantial number of Britain's remaining troops in Iraq as soon as Parliament returns next week. Up to half the force of 5,500 could be on their way home in the next few months.

One cabinet minister told The Independent on Sunday that the announcement by the Prime Minister would be "significant" and would set out a clear strategic direction on Iraq. This would involve the withdrawal of thousands of troops, according to senior government sources.

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Well, the Brits are slowly beginning the withdrawal. Good for them...

news.independent.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

It's only been a matter of time until this announcement was made, really. Most of the troops who leave Iraq will shortly be redeployed to Afghanistan anyway, as there are plans to significantly increase British operations there early next year.

reply to post by Ste2652


Oh great buiild up the families espectatins that these troops are comming home, only to be dashed by resending them out to Afghanistan, where is the fairness in that?

Knows we as the UK has an obligation but come on give these guys a break for a couple of months or a year before resending them from one horrible place to another horrible place yanno.

I am not in no way dissing our Armed personell but forgodsake. They need a break now and then... not constantly at war all the time.. Little to us UK Public forget they have families too...

It was obvious this was going to happen.

Brown needs to make the Iraq War look like "Tony's War". The media has helped by reporting that Gordon did have concerns about the conflict, something which has been public knownledge for months.

reply to post by spencerjohnstone


They're rotated between Afghanistan and the UK so they do get leave to be with their friends and families (and they won't spend all of their time in Afghanistan on the front line - they'll need regular breaks in less dangerous areas, since Afghanistan is a notoriously difficult place to fight). I'm not quite sure of the exact amount of time they spend on each, though.

It happens wherever the armed forces are deployed, be in Germany, the Falklands, out at sea in the Royal Navy etc.

The rumour is that it's going to be 2,000 troops withdrawn. The announcement will be when Parliament returns next week.

[edit on 1/10/07 by Ste2652]