Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Blair and Bush to discuss early Iraq exit

PRESIDENT George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair will use talks in Washington to discuss an accelerated withdrawal of troops from Iraq, starting in July, a UK newspaper says.

The two allies, due to hold talks by the end of the week, will also call on world leaders to help with their withdrawal, according to another newspaper.

The Guardian reported that Blair and Bush's withdrawal plan would be much faster and ambitious than expected. It said officials hoped Britain's forces could be cut from about 8000 to 5000 troops and the US contingent from about 130,000 to 100,000 by the end of this year.

Britain will be out soonoer or later, depending on how long Blair can hold onto office. It might be more difficult for the US to cut and run.


2 comments:

Praguetwin said...

The thing that is really bugging me is that they always said they wouldn't leave until the security situation impoves. Now, in the midst of a surge in violence, there is talk of packing it in.

Also, I thought time-tables were a Bush/Rummy no-no. What changed that sudddenly it is okay.

Will there be calls that Bush is endangering soldiers lives by talking about a time-table?

Just wondering.

Cartledge said...

I'm reading this as a Brit agenda. Well, Iraq and Britain. Probably solely for their own audiences, which is why I flew it here.
I don't see any matching rhetoric from the US admin.