Blair backs swift Iraq handover

[sabra]

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http://icteesside.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200national/tm_objectid=15787511&method=full&siteid=50081&headline=blair-backs-swift-iraq-handover-name_page.html

Blair backs swift Iraq handover Jul 27 2005

Prime Minister Tony Blair has confirmed that Britain wants to hand over military control in Iraq to local authorities as soon as they are ready to assume responsibility for security.

Mr Blair was speaking after Iraq's transitional Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said the Baghdad government wanted to see a swift withdrawal of US troops - something which America's senior general in the country indicated could begin as early as spring 2006.

Speaking alongside US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who is visiting the country, Mr al-Jaafari told a press conference the time had come to plan a coordinated transition from American to Iraqi military control throughout the country.

He said no exact timetable had been set for the withdrawal of US troops, but added: "We confirm and we desire speed in that regard."

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[samsingh]

1. of course he would

make it someone else's problem

[thoughtanarchist]

2. withdrawal of US troops...as early as spring 2006

just in time for the mid-term elections...

War? what war?

:shrug:

[atreides1]

3. A token withdrawal

They will probably withdraw all US troops in the Kurdish north, but don't count on too many being withdrawn from the Baghdad or Al Anbar
Province area.

The Brits will withdraw from Basra, with the exception of the port areas, and US troops will fill in the gaps left by the Brits.

Just a prediction.