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U.K. to ignore U.S. pressure

LONDON: Britain intends to go ahead with its plans to draw down its remaining troops in Iraq despite American pressure on it to stay on until the situation on the ground improves.

According to media reports, British commanders have rejected American concerns that a pull-out at this stage is likely to jeopardise security, as in Washington’s view, Iraqi forces are not yet ready to take control.

Defence sources were reported as saying on Sunday that Britain would “stick” to its timetable according to which 500 more troops would pull out of Basra after handing over responsibility to the Iraqi forces.

The withdrawal was expected “within days or weeks”, they said, making it clear that Britain would not be “swayed” by political considerations or American pressure.

Britain has 5,500 troops in Basra and most of them are expected to be pulled out by the end of next year. But over the coming weeks, 500 would be taken out of active duty and moved from Basra Palace, where they are currently based, to Basra airport. The day-to-day security would be handed over to Iraqis whom they have trained.

“We now feel we are ready to move out and the Iraqi forces to take over,” one senior source told The Independent on Sunday newspaper. The most scathing attack on British tactics has come from General Jack Keane, a retire d American general regarded as close to the White House. In an interview to a British newspaper three days ago, he said the British tactics had resulted in Basra becoming a city of “gangland warfare”.

“I think what has happened is that they [the militants] know British numbers are going down and see the character of the operations is changing,” he said.

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