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Brown: Troops have completed the task and leave a better place
Robert Fox and Joe Murphy17.12.08
A WITHDRAWAL of troops from Iraq was confirmed today, immediately fuelling speculation that more will be sent to Afghanistan.
All 4,100 will be out of Iraq by the end of July next year. But there is strong pressure on Britain and others from US president-elect Barack Obama to join a "surge" against the Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.
Gordon Brown confirmed the homecoming from Iraq after six years in a surprise visit to Baghdad, where he claimed the troops had "completed their tasks". All operations including patrols will end in May and security in the Basra region will be handed over to American forces. His pledge heralds the end of an engagement that has cost 178 British servicemen's lives and has led to hundreds of thousands of Iraqi deaths.
Stop The War Coalition said the war had been "an unmitigated disaster" and had left a million dead, adding: "Nor is the war over for the soldiers. Many will be posted to Afghanistan, an unwinnable war, according to senior British Army spokespeople." The March 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein was ordered by George Bush and Tony Blair to protect against alleged weapons of mass destruction, which turned out not to exist.
Mr Brown flew into Iraq unannounced accompanied by the Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff, to discuss the drawdown in detail with Iraqi premier Nouri al Maliki. The two leaders quickly issued a joint statement that said: "The role played by the UK combat forces is drawing to a close. These forces will have completed their tasks in the first half of 2009 and will then leave Iraq." Some 200 to 300 military advisers, mainly naval, are likely to remain in place.
Mr Brown said: "We leave Iraq a better place." He added that British forces had been part of "the most difficult and challenging of work in overthrowing a dictator and helping build a democracy. We have made a huge contribution and of course given people an economic stake in the future of Iraq."
However, the return of troops is unlikely to end the searing political and community divisions in Britain that were wrenched open by the bloody conflict. The invasion led to the Cabinet resignations of Robin Cook and Clare Short and overshadowed the end of Mr Blair's premiership.
More damagingly, it placed untold strain on community relations in Britain, being partly blamed for the radicalisation of Islamic militants behind terrorist attacks, including the leaders of the July 2005 London bombings.
The big question now is whether troops will be redeployed to join the fighting against the Taliban. Service chiefs have signalled that the Forces are overstrained and need a rest. Military leaders say helicopters, pilots and other heavy equipment will be freed for Afghanistan but regular soldiers should be used to ease the strain on the Army rather than sent to a fresh war.
The agreement with Mr al Maliki includes a pledge that Britain will stay for longer if asked by the Iraqi government. However, both leaders said it was not expected to be needed.
Their joint statement promised to continue co-operation and support for the new government. "The partnership between the two countries will continue to take on new dimensions and will be strengthened through co-operation in all areas due to the prominent position of the UK within the EU and the United Nations Security Council," they said.
Reader views (15)
It could be Brown and Obama have plans for Zimbabwe as things will surely deteriorate there, and we cannot have a recession in the armaments industry.
- Robert El-Cid,, Hull, East Yorks.,
What utter tosh,the british have been driven out of southern Iraq,Basra is in the hands of the marde army and its friends,we have been decieved as to the reasons we went into Iraq and now we are being decieved as to the reasons we are leaveing.
- Kev, London
What a useless waste of valuable lives. At least the Americans are going to get $6billion in arms sales to the Iraqis. What do we get except body bags?
- Roger Slade, Winchester, Hampshire, England
Mr Brown is alledged to ahve stated that...'He was not keen on Blair's War!' on his recent visit to Iraq to visit the Troops. Oh how sweet! I suppose if he had not voted for it, he would have lost his job as Chancellor, and would never have become Prime Minister.
So we really do now know where his loyalties lie - to himself and his own selfish agrandisment. Being a cynic when New labour is involved in matters, I see this as a pre-election give-away... "The Lads and Lasses will be home before the next Election!' So vote for Brown!
- Uncle Vanya, Chelmsford England
Ooooh ahhh ummm. Mission accomplished ? Now that Bush and Blair are firmly locked away in some historical vacuum, both now unaccountable and free, Mr Obama and unelected Brown are free to say, job done. Hundreds of billions of $'s spent, a million dead and the middle east is a safer place? Excuse me as an ordinary tax payer, if I dont say ...whats new? Is Iraq more stable today than yesterday, only time will tell. Armies of occupation will always lose. History has a definitive way of levelling everything, including excessive imperialism. Financial or otherwise.
- Colin Bond, London
Iraq today and where will he spin tomorrow?
As the paymaster for an illegal war which killed thousands of innocent men, women and children, I wish it was a War Crimes Tribunal.
- Jon Dee, N Warks UK
Who does Brown think he is kidding-we are not schoolchildren drooling on every word-indeed none of his words.The Taliban seem more organised and more reistant than ever so what a stupid statement from a "Statesman"!
- Harvey Lawrence, london
It's such a better place that Brown, and Bush before him, have to make "surprise vists" surrounded by heavily armed body guards.
And what about the rights of protestors?
Throw a couple of shoes at a war criminal and you are likely to get beaten up and thrown in jail.
The Iraq war is a crime against humanity and has been an unmitigated disaster, except for the Oil, Construction and Power companies that are ripping off Iraq's assets by the £billions.
- Peter Franzen, wigan
we went we occupied, now we are getting out because its costing us money we have not got, and the country still grows and distributes cocaine and no matter how many of there fighters we kill they kept sending more at us! me thinks they have beaten us like they did the mighty russian army years before
- Mike, mike
Doubtless this will convince another 1 or 2% of the electorate to add more spring to Brown's bounce, deluded souls that they are.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
Difficult to tell from the photograph whether he is saying 'Right, lads. Let's go over the top and give'em hell.' Or, 'Right, lads. Let's go over the top and give 'em £500 million.'
- John Problem, Hackney Wick, London, UK
This again shows NuLiebore's utter contempt for Parliament. Something like this should be announced in the Hosue of Commons first.
- Roger, England
Yet more news spin - "home from Iraq" actually means "and then off to Afghanistan".
Does the Govt think we are that stupid?
- Steve Morton, Cirencester, UK
nothing to do with the pending General election then. Troops come home, Brown stay there!
- Stuart, london
So, "Macavity the cat" Brown, what's wrong with Christmas day or sending a delegate to Iraq? Has Svengali Mandelson told you to duck today's Prime Ministers Questions, in case there are questions about unemployment figures that demonstrate that your fiscal stimulus policy is "crass", to quote the German finance minister? Don't you have the guts to withstand the interrogation?
Flash Gordon should go and go now.
- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hants
