Blair To Announce Troops Withdrawal

[MrAtlanta]

Blair to announce troops withdrawal

Press Association
Tuesday February 20, 2007 10:33 PM


Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to announce on Tuesday the withdrawal of some of Britain's 7,000 troops from Iraq.

Mr Blair is expected to announce that 1,500 servicemen and women will leave within weeks, with 3,000 home by Christmas, according to reports in The Sun.

Mr Blair last week announced the success of Operation Sinbad in securing the key southern city of Basra, which he said would pave the way for the handover of security responsibility to homegrown Iraqi forces.

A spokesman for 10 Downing Street would neither deny nor confirm the reports, saying only: "It is right that the Prime Minister should update Parliament first."

Mr Blair is due to appear before MPs for his regular weekly half-hour grilling at Prime Minister's Questions, though this would be an unlikely forum for him to make such an announcement.

Downing Street declined to comment on whether Mr Blair would be making an oral statement to the Commons.

It is understood that, following the initial withdrawal of 1,500 troops in April, further drawdowns of UK personnel over the following months would be dependent on the conditions on the ground.

Suggestions that Mr Blair will announce the complete withdrawal of British forces by 2008 were thought to be wide of the mark.

If confirmed, the announcement of British troop withdrawals would come just weeks ahead of the fourth anniversary of the start of the 2003 Iraq War on March 19.

And it comes shortly after US President George Bush launched a "surge" of 21,500 additional American troops in a bid to pacify the north of Iraq and capital Baghdad, which has been plagued by sectarian fighting and terrorism.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/s...428578,00.html

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I think George W. is feeling the pressure now. Other countries are demonstrating common sense by withdrawing their troops, while the moron in the White House wants to "stay the course".

This announcement seems to be well-timed on Blair's behalf. Looks like Blair is trying to undermine the Bush Administration by withdrawing troops, at a time when Bush is under fire for increasing his. This could result in the deployment of even more U.S. troops to compensate for the withdrawal of Britain's troops. And I don't think that would go over well with the American people.

[LadyNoir]

Yes, I just read this article. My heart goes out to all the soldiers, and especially the US soldiers and their families. I knew the citizens of the UK were not going to go along with GWB's ideas. They get rid of their leaders over there when they get fed up. Blair was doing fine until he let Bush into his business.

I wish it was all over and all the troops were back on their native soils. My son was over there right at the beginning, and I probably got 30 minutes of sleep at night during those first months, then, after things sort of settled down, I could get about an hour or two of sleep most nights.

In the beginning, I was up all night every night, watching CNN news, had become addicted to it and only stopped looking when it was time to go to work. As soon as I arrived back home from work, I tuned into CNN again, and watched it all night again, until, eventually, from sheer exhaustion I finally got so tired until I began to doze off 30 to 90 minutes or so before my alarm clock went off. I aged a good twenty years during that time and when I looked in the mirror, I hardly knew myself. War IS hell! On everybody!

[DBlack]

Just heard about this on CNN. The fact that Bush is is losing the support of even Brittian says alot about the legitimacy of this war and the power of the people when fed up with an unjust war in free societies.

[shankems2000]

Hmm, now if only Mr. Bush would follow suit.....

[ImaJon]

Tick tock, tick tock. The Bush Administration was adamant about fighting this war alone. The clock indicates that time is very near.

[LadyNoir]

Originally Posted by shankems2000

Hmm, now if only Mr. Bush would follow suit.....

Unfortunately, Mr Bush is too stubborn and arrogant. Cowboy mentality . . . and none of his children are in harm's way

[MrAtlanta]

Originally Posted by shankems2000

Hmm, now if only Mr. Bush would follow suit.....

We'll see as the pressure mounts.

He (Bush) used to brag about the fact that this was an "allied occupation". He doesn't have that leg to stand on anymore.

I still contend that the strained relationship between Bush and Blair was a major determinant in Mr. Blair's decision to withdraw at this time. And it could be that Mr. Blair is going forward with his plans to resign as PM, as anticipated, and doesn't want to leave this mess in the hands of a successor.

[LadyNoir]

Originally Posted by MrAtlanta

We'll see as the pressure mounts.

He (Bush) used to brag about the fact that this was an "allied occupation". He doesn't have that leg to stand on anymore.

I still contend that the strained relationship between Bush and Blair was a major determinant in Mr. Blair's decision to withdraw at this time. And it could be that Mr. Blair is going forward with his plans to resign as PM, as anticipated, and doesn't want to leave this mess in the hands of a successor.

I believe you've hit the nail on the head with those keen observations. I also feel, had Mr Blair not gotten involved with Mr Bush in the first place, there would be no reason for him to resign. However, being our closest ally, it would've been difficult not to. I could be wrong, but these are my thoughts on the matter of his considering to resign.

But hold your horses, because the biggest mess is yet to come . . . the mess that GWB will leave for his successor!

[charliekilothree]

Originally Posted by MrAtlanta

We'll see as the pressure mounts.

He (Bush) used to brag about the fact that this was an "allied occupation". He doesn't have that leg to stand on anymore.

I still contend that the strained relationship between Bush and Blair was a major determinant in Mr. Blair's decision to withdraw at this time. And it could be that Mr. Blair is going forward with his plans to resign as PM, as anticipated, and doesn't want to leave this mess in the hands of a successor.

I believe his words were "a coalition of the willing." Blair is getting some of his troops out of dodge before he goes out. When your number 1 "ally" starts packing it in, where does that leave you?

[bibadiva73]

Blair has finally grown a backbone. I think he realizes that following Bush was a bad career move on his part. Bush will NEVER admit he was wrong about anything. And that's what makes him an idiot to me.