UK troops in Iraq to be cut by 500

British troop numbers in Iraq will be cut by around 500 next month, the defence secretary, John Reid, announced today. That figure represents a reduction of about 6%, bringing the total down to 8,000, but Mr Reid said it amounted to "relatively minor adjustments" and that Britain would not "cut and run" from Iraq.
He told MPs that the current terrorist insurgency "only delays our leaving - it does not hasten our leaving Iraq".

Briefing the Commons on the first day back after the summer recess, the defence secretary said the changes would not affect the range of activities carried out by UK forces. He said they reflected the closure of two small bases in Basra, the transfer of some training tasks to the Iraqi security forces and "structural differences" between brigades.

Mr Reid stressed that the UK would not "abandon Iraq before it is ready to stand on its own two feet". "We do not want to be in Iraq any longer than necessary" he added, saying there had been "much positive progress" this summer, most noticeably towards a written constitution. He told MPs that "Iraq has achieved in 14 months what it has taken this country several centuries to achieve". But he acknowledged fears that the police forces had been infiltrated by insurgents in and around Basra and the southern region, where British troops are based.


He told MPs that in any theatre of conflict there is "always a problem of split loyalties - the question is how to diminish them". "Policing is often the last nut to be cracked," he added, but stressed that those Iraqis in uniform but hostile to UK troops were "not a majority or anything like it". He paid tribute to the Iraqi police service, saying it took courage to put on a uniform in Basra or anywhere else in Iraq. Dr Reid said that Britain's exit strategy policy had not changed, and would depend on a variety of factors, including an assessment of the insurgency, an assessment of Iraqi capabilities, and the "posture" of coalition forces. But he said setting a date would be like "sending a postcard to the terrorists" to tell them when troops were leaving.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1589046,00.html

did.

the numbers of UK troops in Iran will increase by 500...

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article318685.ece

Britain to cut number of troops in Iraq
By Ben Russell, Political Correspondent
Published: 11 October 2005
British troop numbers in Iraq will be cut next month, John Reid, the Defence Secretary, announced yesterday, but he rejected calls to set a timetable for withdrawal.

Dr Reid said troop numbers in Iraq would fall by 500 after routine changes in deployments next month, leaving 8,000 British soldiers in the country.

He said the changes were "relatively minor adjustments" but hinted that the US-led coalition would consider handing parts of the country over to Iraq security forces as more local police and troops are trained.

But he insisted that giving a deadline for pulling out troops would "send a postcard to terrorists" and encourage the fighting to continue.

He told MPs: "The biggest obstacle now to our leaving Iraq is the actions of the terrorists themselves. Terrorist activity only delays our leaving Iraq. It does not hasten our leaving Iraq."

British troop numbers in Iraq will be cut next month, John Reid, the Defence Secretary, announced yesterday, but he rejected calls to set a timetable for withdrawal.

Dr Reid said troop numbers in Iraq would fall by 500 after routine changes in deployments next month, leaving 8,000 British soldiers in the country.

He said the changes were "relatively minor adjustments" but hinted that the US-led coalition would consider handing parts of the country over to Iraq security forces as more local police and troops are trained.
more...

English are saying a slow Goodbye!!!

I don't know.

Whether he means it or whether hes just sucking up to Tony coz he wants the top job :shrug:

For some reason the units rotated in are always smaller than the units rotated out....and one day one of the guys loses the key to the john, locking them both out.

nice excuse to quietly withdraw. good for them. they know bush has future plans for the region and likely don't want to become involved.