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Brown could pull half of Iraq force out by New Year
Last updated at 22:52pm on 30.09.07
Sources claim that Brown may be on the verge of withdrawing a significant number of Britain's remaining troops in Iraq
As many as half of the 5,500 force could be on their way home by the end of the year.
Insiders say that the Prime Minister will next week make a "significant" announcement to Parliament as he sets out a clear strategic direction on Iraq.
He is expected to confirm the handover of Basra, the last remaining province in British hands, to full Iraqi control, and to outline a timetable for the departure of most British forces in Iraq next year.
Under a series of scenarios being drawn up by aides, between 2,000 and 3,000 troops would remain in Iraq into next year in an "overwatch" role – ready to intervene in an emergency if called on by the Iraqi or US authorities.
They would also continue to train the Iraqi military and police, and protect the supply route from neighbouring Kuwait.
All of Britain's remaining troops in Iraq are now consolidated at Basra air base on the edge of the city after the last remaining soldiers pulled out of Basra Palace last month.
Since he became Prime Minister, Mr Brown has gradually distanced himself from Mr Blair's policy on Iraq.
Recent polls show that more than two-thirds of the public think British troops are losing the war in Iraq, and over half believe the war is already lost.
However, military observers believe that any pull-out of troops in Iraq will coincide with the announcement of more troops going to Afghanistan and the numbers are more likely to be in the region of 550 – the size of a battalion.
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Withdrawal British troops leaving Basra earlier this year
A Downing Street source said: "Numbers and timings are being presented to the Prime Minister. The detail of the announcement has not been agreed yet."
In an interview with today's Daily Mail, Colonel Jorge Menseriouslydonca accuses ministers of having "little or no interest" in the Armed Forces.
Col Mendonca, who has left the Army in disgust following his politically-motivated court martial, says: "We were hopelessly let down. Every meeting or discussion I ever attended always started with the assumption that there would be, at best, no more money.
"It is unacceptable. You cannot put people's lives at risk in places like Iraq and Afghanistan and not pay for the support that goes with it, but that's what we have done."
The criticism came as it was claimed ministers had drawn up secret plans to slash the number of ships in the Royal Navy.
Documents obtained by the Sunday Telegraph suggest five warships could be decommissioned from next April.
This halving in numbers would leave the Navy able to carry out only "one small-scale operation".
A whistleblower has revealed that the MoD has threatened to decommission the five ships following a row with the Treasury Chief Secretary Andy Burnham over the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement.
Reader views (7)
Well this will depend only on if there is an election. Nothing to do with what our military are saying locally what is good or not. Only political fighting will determine what happens. It is a sad situation to be retreating for that reason.
- Jeff, London
Pull out the troops and send in Blair and Blunkett - they started it.
- Dave, Wookey Hole, Somerset
What has this to do with leadership Gordon?
- Paul, London
Home by Christmas, what a crock!
The EU referendum debacle should prove to any doubters that this man lies through his teeth and has no respect for the taxpaying electorate.
- Dave, London
Of course depending on if there is an election or not. Or yes? Or no, oh yes, no. Dithering and u-turns seems to be the Nu Labour benchmark. It is a shame that it is a cynical exploitation of our forces that Gordon and Blair sent to Iraq just a couple of years ago. Soldiers need proper long term leadership and planning is not something to be left to Labour politicians...
- Georgie, London
They shouldn't have been there in the first place. Gordon is culpable in bank-rolling the UK's side of Bush's war and making the UK a dangerous place to live.
- Nobby Clark, London
Of course he could, he may have an election on his hands soon and would want the Iraq situation to look promising under his strong leadership. In fact this action it bears no relation to developments on the ground in Basra under his 'strong' leadership and is merely a cynical election sweetener. The sufferers will be the Iraqi people. Having kicked down the door, we cannot leave until our departure will not result in things getting worse for them.
- Peter Haldane, London
