British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday that Britain would reduce its troop levels in Iraq by 1,600 over coming months, but its soldiers would stay in the country into 2008 as long as they were wanted."The actual reduction in forces will be from the present 7,100 - itself down from over 9,000 two years ago and 40,000 at the time of the conflict - to roughly 5,500," Blair told parliament."The U.K. military presence will continue into 2008, for as long as we are wanted and have a job to do," he said.The planned withdrawal comes as British troops hand over responsibility for security in Iraq's southeastern region to Iraqi forces.
It coincides with a surge of U.S. forces in Baghdad in a bid to quell a violent insurgency there.Blair said the reduction in British troop levels would not mean a "diminution of our combat capability."British forces will take up a support and training role and most would be located at Basra air base, he said.
Some troops would remain at Basra Palace until the Iraqis were also able to take over that site, but these could be reduced in time."Over time... we will be able to draw down further, possibly to below 5,000 once the Basra Palace site has been transferred to the Iraqis in late summer," he said.
Blair also said he was starting to see signs from Syria that its government is prepared to help in Iraq."In respect of Syria, I think there is some sign that the Syrian government is prepared to help," he told parliament.
"We can't be sure on this, but there are some tentative signs."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce