News & Politics - UK may cut Iraq force in half by mid-2007: commander

Lexis · 08-22-2006, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Britain may cut its force in
Iraq in half by the middle of next year after handing over security responsibility for the south to Iraqis within nine months, a senior British commander said on Tuesday.
ADVERTISEMENT

Speaking to reporters on condition he not be identified, the commander said Britain would leave "quite a significantly smaller force than we've got now, but probably in the region of 3,000 to 4,000 people based in a single location."

Britain handed over responsibility for one of the southern provinces it controls to Iraqi forces in July, and the commander said it hopes to hand over a second province next month.

Most of Britain's 7,000 troops in Iraq are based around the second city of Basra, where the commander said a transition to Iraqi control could take place in the first quarter of 2007.

"These are all conditions-based, subject to a variety of factors, but in terms of the tactical plan and the competence of the Iraqi army, it is perfectly feasible," he said.

He said the first thousand British troops could start returning home in the next 4 to 6 months, in part representing forces being drawn down from Maysan province, where Britain has already begun moving out of its main base.

The 3,000 to 4,000-strong British force would remain in the Basra area after the handover "to protect our investment" in security in the mainly-Shi'ite south and show support for U.S. troops still facing security problems in other parts of Iraq.

UK may cut Iraq force in half by mid-2007: commander - Yahoo! News

I'm glad we're finally bringing some of them home. Let's hope things stay peaceful (ish) in the South so that this can go ahead.

ceilirose · 08-22-2006, 11:30 PM

And on the other hand the US recalled 2,500 Marines on an onvoluntary basis to serve in the Mideast starting next year.

CNN.com - Bush OKs involuntary Marine recall - Aug 22, 2006

They could serve up to an 18 month tour of duty.

Lovely.

Lexis · 08-23-2006, 12:33 AM

One step forward, two steps back.


Fan Forum > General Discussion > News & Politics > UK may cut Iraq force in half by mid-2007: commander