TROOPS OUT - NEARLY

21-02-2007

The phased withdrawal of British troops from Iraq announced by the Prime Minister today is supposedly dependent on the law and order situation there - but The Stirrer's Westminster sources say it's almost impossible to conceive of a situation in which all our troops won't have left by the end of next year at the latest.

Tony Blair told the Commons that 1,600 troops will come home over the next few months, leaving fewer than 5,0000 there, deployed mostly in the south of the country around Basra, training up the Iraqi's own defence force.

Labour backbenchers are convinced that this is the beginning of the end, with even those who supported the war starting to recognise that the occupation is as much a cause of conflict as a cure; it is also becoming increasingly evident that it's a potential electoral liability.

So much so that insiders reckon Britain will be out of Iraq completely in less than two years.

Britain's timetable for withdrawal has been formally welcomed by US Defence Secretary Condoleeza Rice, but with the Republicans facing a fight to secure backing in Congress for an additional 21,000 troops, it's unlikely Washington will have been so cheerful in private.

In fact, we understand that but for the toing and froing between the White House and Downing Street, a reduction in British troop numbers might have been announced before Christmas.

Our reduction in numbers can only leave George Bush looking increasingly isolated on the international stage.

Today Denmark announced that its small force was quitting Iraq, apart from a small helicopter unit.

But Australia's PM John Howard is resisting the pressure to reduce his country's presence after warning that any withdrawal would encourage “insurgents” to greater violence and bloodshed.

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