Troops (UK) to Start Leaving Iraq Next Year

Troops to start leaving Iraq next year
By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor and Adrian Blomfield in Baghdad
(Filed: 14/04/2005)

British and American troops will be withdrawn steadily from Iraq starting next year and are likely to be completely out of the country within five years, Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, said yesterday.

Setting out for the first time a possible timetable for departure of foreign forces, Mr Straw said the 7,500 British troops deployed in southern Iraq are unlikely to be reduced before December, when elections for a permanent Iraqi government are due to be held.

However, the United Nations mandate for all foreign forces will expire at the start of 2006 and a review of their status is due to begin in two months' time. Mr Straw said the Government was likely to take "decisions" about the future of British forces in the autumn.

"The progressive run-down of forces is likely to happen next year," he said. "As to the pace, I cannot say until later this year but over the next parliament British troops will be down to virtually nothing."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/14/wirq14.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/04/14/ixworld.html

So seven years in Iraq in total, in a country that had no wmd's or clean running water, heck how long will they have to be in Iran for?

It is purely pre-election rhetoric.

Blair is part of the lying consortium providing support to attack Iran in June / July as was indicated broadly by Scott Ritter on the randi Rhodes Show yesterday.

Jacob Matthan
http://jmpolitics.blogspot.com
Oulu, Finland

Look at the source.

And hello to you, jmatthan! :hi:

The real meaning of the word manana (sp) is not 'tomorrow' it means definitely not today.

in every state with Bush?

I think they've had enough of you and your treason.

It is always next year.