Britain to pull troops from Iraq--not much of a coalition left, huh?
The Nazz
25-09-2005, 04:48
And Japan's leaving with them. From the Guardian (http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,6903,1577937,00.html):
British troops will start a major withdrawal from Iraq next May under detailed plans on military disengagement to be published next month, The Observer can reveal.
The document being drawn up by the British government and the US will be presented to the Iraqi parliament in October and will spark fresh controversy over how long British troops will stay in the country. Tony Blair hopes that, despite continuing and widespread violence in Iraq, the move will show that there is progress following the conflict of 2003.
Britain has already privately informed Japan - which also has troops in Iraq - of its plans to begin withdrawing from southern Iraq in May, a move that officials in Tokyo say would make it impossible for their own 550 soldiers to remain.
So when this happens, will there be any coalition members left who actually have troops in Iraq, or who we're not paying to give lip service support to this debacle? Or will it just be us and the suicidal mine-discovering monkeys from where, Costa Rica or something?
As if Iraq wasn't already a financial wonderland for PMC's...
BerkylvaniaYetAgain
25-09-2005, 05:05
To be fair, the UK government is denying this report:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4279618.stm
Neo Kervoskia
25-09-2005, 05:08
It's still grand!
The Nazz
25-09-2005, 05:14
To be fair, the UK government is denying this report:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4279618.stm
Hadn't seen that--but honestly, does Blair have much of a choice in this? Isn't his own party pretty much making it a requirement for his continued leadership?
BerkylvaniaYetAgain
25-09-2005, 08:20
Meh, who knows? It'll proabably get massaged and spun so that everyone looks like a winner. Like the BBC piece mentions, the US, UK and Iraq are currently working on troop withdrawl plans which could start after the upcoming elections.
Gymoor II The Return
25-09-2005, 10:23
And Japan's leaving with them. From the Guardian (http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,6903,1577937,00.html):
So when this happens, will there be any coalition members left who actually have troops in Iraq, or who we're not paying to give lip service support to this debacle? Or will it just be us and the suicidal mine-discovering monkeys from where, Costa Rica or something?
I think the suicidal anti-mine monkeys were from Morocco, but I could be wrong. Which go nicely with the missing dart-armed Navy dolphins.
New Burmesia
25-09-2005, 10:41
As far as I remember Bliar and Clarke denied that troops will be withdrawn. That would mean Labour doing something people want.
New Burmesia
25-09-2005, 10:45
Hadn't seen that--but honestly, does Blair have much of a choice in this? Isn't his own party pretty much making it a requirement for his continued leadership?
I think that the Backbenchers want it - but as long as he's surrounded by his cronies in the Cabinet (Which is nearly identical to the one in 1997, despite corruption and abuse of power scandals) he'll do what he damn well likes.
And in any case, Brown'll just take over after who's made it clear that he's more of a Thatcherite (Oops, I meant Blairite ) than Blair.
Pitshanger
25-09-2005, 12:51
How's Blair like Thatcher ffs?
Aside from Iraq, I can't see how any of this "OMG LABOUR ARE RIGHT WING!!!!!" rubbish has come about.
The State of It
25-09-2005, 13:04
How's Blair like Thatcher ffs?
Dictator style rule, arrogance, love of big corporations and wars, spitting upon and betraying the workers, the sick and the poor.
Aside from Iraq, I can't see how any of this "OMG LABOUR ARE RIGHT WING!!!!!" rubbish has come about.
The beginnings of privatisation of the NHS? Sticking two fingers up at unions? Creating two tier education system? Spitting on the heritage of workers? Repeal of Clause Four?
Open your eyes for once.
UK Troops pullout. Brilliant news if true, for Iraqis and British troops and their families alike, although I fear that if this news is true, Blair may be embarrassed by the leak because of his mega ego and delay the withdrawl further.
Let's face it, this news isnt going to be true. If it was, it would be too good to be true anyway and hence would be false...
Jeruselem
25-09-2005, 13:11
Australia and US will single-handledly stabilise the middle east and restore world peace and stop nuclear weapons proliferation ...
In someones dreams
Sure there is, canada is sending Celine Dioeon CD's, France is sending french bread and pizza, Japan is sending nintendo, Sweden is sending Ava, and Mexico is sending illegal immigrates.
Centrist Britain
25-09-2005, 13:19
France is sending french bread and pizza
why would france be sending pizza, when it's italian?
Jeruselem
25-09-2005, 13:21
why would france be sending pizza, when it's italian?
Stale Croissants maybe! :)
Sure there is, canada is sending Celine Dioeon CD's, France is sending french bread and pizza, Japan is sending nintendo, Sweden is sending Ava, and Mexico is sending illegal immigrates.
We'll send our prime-minister .....
Stale Croissants maybe! :)
Stale politicians too?
France will be sending declaratation, surrenduring to the insergents.
Lionstone
25-09-2005, 22:12
It had bloody well better not be true, we are in there and we should not pull out until Iraq is capable of governing itself, otherwise every nutter with a bomb and a cause will think that by blowing citizens of the Empire up he can get what he wants.
Besides, we are right to be in Iraq (Even if the government said all the WRONG reasons instead of the right ones...ends not means I suppose)
Lotus Puppy
25-09-2005, 22:19
If they are drawing up this report, I can think of no reason why other than Blair's fight for survival. His party is sorta split on the Iraq issue, but the Conservatives mostly back it. The only real organized political organization against the Iraq war are those New Democrats, but they are marginal in Parliament.