Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
LONDON, Dec 13 (AFP) - The United States and Britain are planning a phased
withdrawal of their military forces from Iraq as soon as a permanent
government is installed in Baghdad, the Times newspaper reported Tuesday.
In a dispatch from the Iraqi capital ahead of Thursday's parliamentary
elections, it said British and US officials view the end of Iraq's
transitional period as the "green light" to begin withdrawing troops as
early as next March.
"One of the first things we will talk about (with the new Iraqi government)
is the phased transfer of security, particularly in cities and provinces,"
it quoted a senior Western diplomat in Baghdad as saying.
"It will happen progressively over the next year."
The United States has more than 160,000 troops in central and northern Iraq,
while Britain has about 8,000 in four southern provinces. The two nations
invaded in March 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein's dictatorship.
The Times said "contingency plans" were in place for British units in Dhiqar
and Muthana provinces to go as early as spring 2006, followed by those in
the most restive province of Misan.
The United States is meanwhile "planning to pull out 30,000 (troops) by the
new year" and reduce their presence to below 100,000 personnel "in the
coming months," it said, without giving a source.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told The Times that a hasty withdrawal
could hurl his country into more violence.
"Those who advocate an early withdrawal do not know what is at stake," he
said. "The huge investment in blood and money sacrificed by the US could be
squandered. This is the time for patience. We do not need to panic."
In a BBC television interview, Major General Jim Dutton, commander of the
British-led multinational division based in the main southern city of Basra,
said the sooner coaliton troops leave, "in many ways the better".
"We wish to get out of this country as soon as possible when we have put in
place the conditions that allow the Iraqis to continue to develop...
Certainly we are aiming to do it as soon as possible," he told the
"Newsnight" programme.
"Given what I know today and what I think is going to happen, six months is
not an unrealistic timescale to start talking about withdraw of troops from
some areas."
But he added: "We have got to be sure -- and the Iraqis wouldn't want to do
it too quickly. Certainly the Iraqi security forces wouldn't want to."
withdrawal of their military forces from Iraq as soon as a permanent
government is installed in Baghdad, the Times newspaper reported Tuesday.
In a dispatch from the Iraqi capital ahead of Thursday's parliamentary
elections, it said British and US officials view the end of Iraq's
transitional period as the "green light" to begin withdrawing troops as
early as next March.
"One of the first things we will talk about (with the new Iraqi government)
is the phased transfer of security, particularly in cities and provinces,"
it quoted a senior Western diplomat in Baghdad as saying.
"It will happen progressively over the next year."
The United States has more than 160,000 troops in central and northern Iraq,
while Britain has about 8,000 in four southern provinces. The two nations
invaded in March 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein's dictatorship.
The Times said "contingency plans" were in place for British units in Dhiqar
and Muthana provinces to go as early as spring 2006, followed by those in
the most restive province of Misan.
The United States is meanwhile "planning to pull out 30,000 (troops) by the
new year" and reduce their presence to below 100,000 personnel "in the
coming months," it said, without giving a source.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told The Times that a hasty withdrawal
could hurl his country into more violence.
"Those who advocate an early withdrawal do not know what is at stake," he
said. "The huge investment in blood and money sacrificed by the US could be
squandered. This is the time for patience. We do not need to panic."
In a BBC television interview, Major General Jim Dutton, commander of the
British-led multinational division based in the main southern city of Basra,
said the sooner coaliton troops leave, "in many ways the better".
"We wish to get out of this country as soon as possible when we have put in
place the conditions that allow the Iraqis to continue to develop...
Certainly we are aiming to do it as soon as possible," he told the
"Newsnight" programme.
"Given what I know today and what I think is going to happen, six months is
not an unrealistic timescale to start talking about withdraw of troops from
some areas."
But he added: "We have got to be sure -- and the Iraqis wouldn't want to do
it too quickly. Certainly the Iraqi security forces wouldn't want to."
